Message Number: YG12814 | New FHL Archives Search
From: dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-04-30 19:36:00 UTC
Subject: Re: NOSE BLEED Question

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Stephanie Grant"
<scarlettoferret@c...> wrote:
> I am asking this question, for a friend of mine. Has anyone had a
> ferret that has developed a nose bleed? Their ferret started
having one
> Saturday night. They have seen some Sunday & Monday. Watery
looking.
> This ferret may also have insulinoma and is about 4 years old. Not
sure
> what day, they have their vet appointment. Any ideas would be
> appreciated.


Dear Stephanie:

Nose bleeds are not a good sign in ferrets. The most common ly seen
signs of blood at the nostrils are seen with bleeding gastric ulcers -
however, this sign is most commonly seen in dying ferrets (it takes a
lot of blood to becoughed up like this.

Fungal infections and tumors in the nasal cavity can also result in
nosebleeds in ferets. These are really difficult cases to diagnose,
as you can't see up the nose, and any lesions are generally encased
in the nasal cavity.

A careful X-ray of the head may disclose a mass lesion, or erosion of
the bones of the nasal cavity.

With kindest regards,

Bruce williams, DVM