Message Number: YG13226 | New FHL Archives Search
From: dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-05-22 20:14:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Polyps in ferrets (long message)

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "auntiedeb99" <auntiedeb90@h...>
wrote:
> Suspecting that it was a prolapsed rectum (although I had never
seen
> such a thing before), Lily was rushed to a vet. The vet
immediately
> took Lily to surgery, also believing it to be a prolapsed rectum.
> However, it turned out to be a large polyp that was still connected
> inside and hanging outside. The vet removed the polyp and sent it
in
> for testing. Lily has recovered nicely.
>
> The good news is that this was the cause of Lily's increasingly bad
> litterbox habits that we had been attributing to senility.
>
> Last week the vet called to report that the polyp cannot be called
> cancerous, but instead is called a pre-cancerous polyp. He claimed
> this was good news. But, the lab was also planning to do a special
> stain on the cells. Today he called back to report that the stain
> showed there to be Lawsonia intracellularis present which
apparently
> is often a significant cause of these intestinal polyps. He
> recommended treating with the antibiotic called chloremphenicol
which
> I will pick-up today.

Dear Deb -

Lawsonia is the causative agent of a disease called proliferative
colitis, which you may have already heard of. In this disease, there
is profound growth of the colonic (and rectal in this case) lining,
which likely has resembled a polyp, but is actually just a large
segment of hyperplastic mucosa.

I would now treat this as a garden variety case of proliferative
colitis, and not worry about polyps.

Bleeding is commonly seen with proliferative colitis - it is a common
presenting sign.

Chloramphenicol is the appropriate treatment for PC, but may need to
be continued off and on throughout the ferrets life.

With kindest regards,

Bruce Williams, dVM