From:
spriggy@earthlink.net
Date: 2003-02-23 00:30:25 UTC
Subject: Ferret Gasping
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <19801094.1045960225528.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Dr. Bruce Williams,
I am hoping you can help me with an usual but strikingly common symptom presented by several ferrets. I have a 5.5 year male named Dickens. I have grown up around medicine and have become quite savvy with ferret medicine but I am stumped here. The vets I have spoken with never offer an explanation that seems to fully answer the problem. Dickens is adrenal gland removal surgery +1 day at this point. Our veterinarian is quite good and knows ferrets quite well. Both adrenal glands were removed and the tumors on each were quite large. Dickens has moderate hair loss around the hind quarters and seems otherwise fine but we elected for surgery while he was still strong.
Dickens is home now and is badly bruised on his left dorsal opposite the incision. He has red spots in some areas of exposed skin and some visible blotching under some of the fur covered skin. He is having a very hard post-surgical recovery. He is very weak and we are nursing him on a heating pad. Our vet kept him overnight after surgery and has admitted that she is a bit concerned. He is taking fluids well and we have gotten nutrical into him. I am concerned we may have a secondary problem that is causing such slow recovery and terrible bruising and blotching on his body.
Now, my biggest concern and the thing I hope you can explain most is the "sucking/gasping/nashing/grinding noise". I have heard this with several ferrets and it has NEVER been a good omen. Dickens has just started doing it and it started 24 hours (today at 16:00 EST) after his surgery. His mouth opens half way, he gets a distant look in his eyes and then his mouth opens and closes a little as he seems to "suck wind" but it is accompanied by a horrible nashing, cartilage grinding sound in his throat. It is a terrible sound and in the four ferrets I have heard it from it was not far ahead of their death. Do you have any idea what this is? My vet suggests that it could be an obstructive mass in or near the traech. or lung area. I suspect it may have something to do with cancer but I am at a loss. It seems too common for me not to be able to obtain a solid, definite answer on.
I am hoping that the anti-biotics, pred syrup, water, and baby food mixed with water will bring him around slowly to a recovery but I am alarmed at his condition and slow recovery. I would be very grateful for your thought and help on this matter. My phone number is 201.343.3788. If you wish, contact me and I will call you back so that you are not saddled with the charges. During the week I am at my work direct line 201.678.9314. Email will work too of course but if you need to ask me more detailed questions, I welcome your call. Thank you for your consideration.
Regards,
Steven Kalur/Claudia Farias