From:
deevecchione
Date: 2002-06-26 08:26:00 UTC
Subject: Cystic liver
Hi everybody,
We, this morning my 6.5 year old sprite, Molly, went in for
insulinoma and adrenal surgery. We were trying to manage on just pred
and Lupron, but the pred had packed so much weight onto her, she was
starting look like a Weeble(remember those?). It was difficult for
her to move around. Her belly got in the way of going up and down the
stairs, and she was frequently tired. Her previously delicate frame
of 1.25 lbs was now close to 3 lbs. I decided that if she was to have
any quality of life that I had to get her off the pred, therefore do
the surgery.
Well, as it frequently turns out with ferrets, you go in for one
reason and soon find something else. Her liver had a very big cyst,
which was removed along with the one lobe. The other lobe has one the
size of a small walnut, but it wasn't interfering with anything, so
my vet left it alone. The other one was probably becoming painful.
There was a lot of discoloration throughout her entire liver. I'll
have to find out exactly what color it was. My vet did a biopsy, so
now we just wait.
She also removed one insulinoma. As far as the adrenals go, her right
looked fine, and the left was hyperplastic. Given her age and the
fact the liver condition is probably going to be life limiting, my
vet felt it was best not to keep her under for the additional time in
order to remove it. We can still manage that with Lupron, if need be.
She's only had hair loss on the bottom of her back feet.
Earlier this week I noticed a lump on the right side of her neck. It
could be fat, given the size that she is, or something more. I guess
I'll have to play the waiting game for the biopsy results.
I lost three ferrets and a cat in 11 months, ending this February. I
really hope I get at least another six months with my Molly. She was
my first kit and is extra special to me. I'm down to just three
ferrets now. All over the age of 6. I know our days together are
numbered, but if they can just hang in there for another year. Even
that won't be enough, though. Their time on this earth is just too
short.<sigh>
Dodie