From:
miamiferret
Date: 2002-01-06 08:59:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Could this be hyperthyroidism?
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Jen & Andre" <jen.andre@i...> wrote:
> Would a hyperthyroid ferret have enlarged lymph nodes and spleen?
Is this worth pursuing? Is hyperthyroidism easily diagnosed/treated?
Would this have shown up on her bloodwork?
Hyperthyroidism would not show up on normal bloodwork. You'd have to
have a T4 test run. Your vet would most likely have to send the blood
sample out for this. I've never heard of this condition in ferrets
(which doesn't mean too much). One of Angela's shelter ferrets,
Sammy, was hypOthryroid, and possibly one other, though I don't know
if that one was ever confirmed. I believe this is also a fairly rare
condition in ferrets.
I had a cat with hyperthyroidism and he was ravenous but continued to
lose weight until we had it diagnosed. He was almost 19 years old,
so we opted to treat it with Methimazole rather than surgery or
radiation therapy and it controlled it quite well. I don't recall
enlarged lymph nodes or spleen being one of the symptoms. The most
obvious symptom to us was the constant eating while continuing to
lose weight.
mike