Message Number: YG14009 | New FHL Archives Search
From: dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-06-19 22:23:00 UTC
Subject: Re: splenomegaly options

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., wolfysluv@a... wrote:
> I have a rescue MF male, who's estimated age would bring him
just about
> at four years old. He has had an enlarged spleen that goes up and
down. I've
> watched it for a year and my vet has watched it also. Its been up
very bad
> however in recent weeks (we had a flu go through the home last
month). He's
> been over any cold/flu symptoms... every one has been over it in
fact for
> almost three weeks. Yet his spleen is very large. He seems almost
bloated.
> He is very sleepy, more sleepy even than before but otherwise no
other
> symptoms.
> Antibiotic therapy has never been attempted. So, I was
wondering, that
> even if he has no other symptoms or has had none in the past
besides fatigue,
> would this be worth trying?

Wolfy:

Antibiotic therapy probably is of little use in cases such as this -
at best you will see a small decrease, and then with the next flareup
it will jump right back to previous size or bigger.

Surgery actually is a very good option in ferrets - have never seen a
splenectomized ferret develop problems as a long-term result of
splenic removal.( The perioperative period appears to be the biggest
risk in these patients.)

With kindest regards,

Bruce Williams DVM