From:
wolfysluv@aol.com
Date: 2002-05-16 04:12:00 UTC
Subject: update on Dippy and botched descenting
Hi, I had written a couple months ago with a kit that had
infected anal glands (she was supposedly decented, etc) that had
possibly invaded other areas of her body. It was the weekend when
it happened. There were no vets down here on call except one unsavy
vet and, only an emergency hospital here for putting very bad
emergency cases to sleep essentially. I wrote here and recieved
great information and help. I especially recieved help and a very
needed direct response from Dr Williams. His information helped me
in talking to the vets so that proper action c could be taken.
Unfortunately the very nice but inexperienced vet could only
put her on antibiotics. So by the time a good vet could see her
monday it was all cleared up. The better vet I saw on Monday felt
too insecure digging around in an uninfected area trying to find and
trace all the "bits" etc to extract. So we waited until infection
hit again.
It did. We went in and took two intact anal sacks out, and
some damaged tissue yesterday. In addition, sadly there was some
dead tissue, even around the anus (you could see a portion of it was
white by the time they operated). I wanted to write that I had my
ferret to the vets for surgery within 14 hours of any sign of
infection... yet within that time some tissue died near/on the
anus. It's mindboggling how fast that can happen. So I wanted
everyone to know to be careful if they see a swollen anus, a
seemingly protruding or prolapsed anus. You never know. I couldn't
get her to a vet any sooner than I did as it flared up late at
night. BUT, if it had,,, I wouldn't have run her to the vets right
off the bat those first hours because I thought it was NOT her
glands, etc.. And then I would have subsequently been filled with
guilt over any dead tissue found. So I thought I'd write about this
experience so people would know in case this situation ever arose
for them.
The first vet was clueless, but due to information
obtained here at the FHL from Dr Williams and the rest of you, she
recieved perhaps life saving care that weekend even though surgery
was not done right off the bat. I feel as if, this information
helped solidfy any thoughts the experienced vet had that we later
saw. This led to her acting very speedily. So thank you everyone.
She is resting now... and guess what.... it appears as if she has
bowel control despite her problems. :)
Wolfy
Please visit:
http://www.geocities.com/wolfysluv/
for information on ferret deafness:
http://www.geocities.com/wolfysluv/deaf.html