From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2003-01-26 23:50:49 UTC
Subject: Sevie , more than A/V Heart Node Block and Insulinoma
To: ferrethealth-owner@smartgroups.com, ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <a05210201ba5a1f7f7aac@[10.0.1.6]>
I want to write this before I forget anything that might help anyone.
We had to help Sevie pass today. There will be communication among
our vet and specialists to try to get as much information from her as
possible, trying to help otehrs.
After close to 7 months of decent life with her meds her last few
weeks were very weird. She went through inappetance and steadily
weaker but even though we got her eating again she get weaker and
weaker. For the last three days she was fouling herself, but we were
trying for her to perk up again. Strangely her ascites cleared up to
the point where her oral meds simply got rid of it, her axillary
nodes which had been blown up some from poor circulation for months
wwent down. When she had her EKG today she actually had the best
heart rate she has had in 7 months, after being steadily worse and
steadily a Level 3. At the same time she was very cold and she could
not control or move her body from the chest down except for a few
minor motions. When she had enough of a adrenaline rush she could
somewhat piloerect her tail and she could move her feet but she had
no ability to bear weight. She seemed to have lost light pain
sensation (given the clips for the EKG) but could feel the cold of
the alcohol.
The last time she needed additional (shot) Lasix was 7 days ago.
Obviously, all that be learned form her wil be because she did go 7
months with Complete A/V Heart Node Block so she has lessons to teach.
It appears that what was getting her was that since her insulinoma
surgery 7 months ago she developed liver disease. Pathology will
give details, but apparently her liver was just plain shot when she
was openned up, possibly a malignancy there.
Sevie was of unknown age. The minimal age she could be was 5 years
but she easily could have been older and we have reason to think that
certainly was.
I'm osrry if this is a mess. We are upset, obviously, but I didn't
know if this may help someone.
Maybe what we all used was a good routine for maintaining one with
this heart condition, perhaps better than we thought since she not
only lived a lot longer than expected but she died of somerthing
esle. Why her heart would begin acting so much better at the end
after so long of being bad is a question. It was enlarged when
removed, BTW. We hope that something can be learned to help other
ferrets.
As usual, please, send sympathy notes privately, but if anyone
wanting to send one could hold off for a day or so with those it
would be appreciated.
End of ferrethealth Digest
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