Message Number: YG11777 | New FHL Archives Search
From: dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-03-08 21:39:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Vets please

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "FerretMommy" <ferret.mommy@u...>
wrote:
> Thanks Dr Williams I will request an aspirate (WHAT is that?)

An aspirate is when you stick a needle into an organ (in this case
the spleen) and suck out some cells, which you look at on a slide.
It is a quick way to get a preliminary diagnosis without having to
actually go in and remove the organ in question. For lymphomas, I do
recommend following up with a real biopsy for confirmation.


i was wondering why no signs then boom there it is..??

Ferrets with JL generally present all of a sudden - usually when a
mass in the chest causes significant problems breathing. The liver
and spleen is usually also enlarged, but there is a lot of extra room
in the abdomen for them to grow, but space is at a premium in the
chest. Lungs need room to expand when you inhale, and anything
growing in the chest soon impinges on them.

> guess..would a pic help?

Unfortunately, in this case, gross pictures generally don't help
much - an X-ray though, is often very telling.

With kindest regards,

Bruce williams, dVM