Message Number: SG4191 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Steve Austin
Date: 2003-04-22 18:40:55 UTC
Subject: Intestinal problems/ wasting disease
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20030422.144747.1388.17.kazpat1@juno.com>

I am not a vet, and of course, your vet actually examined the ferret,etc.
But, I would think about three things, only because this ferret is way
too young to be so sick.

1) Blockage, high on my list because of age and suddenly becoming sick
Xrays miss a large percent of these, if history and exam is
compatable,
surgery is the only way to know for sure.
2) Lymphosarcoma, the juvenile form can be quite quick and aggressive
you would have to get a biopsy or aspirate of a mass or node
I think most common place is in the chest though, maybe a
ferretgram x-ray
to look for mass/ sign of blockage to help with number 1.
3) ADV- a quick test for ADV can rule this out. just throwing it in
their because of age and being sick

Of course, he could just have picked up some cold/flu virus, or something
not quite so drastic, but you asked for possible problems, so I thought
of
the above.

Was there any diarrhea at all, vomiting, fever, any rash or cough,etc?

Patty

> morning at the vet I discovered in the past month or two he has lost
> about a half a pound, and the vet said his intestine seems "ropey"
> and that a gland by his abdomen is swollen. He ran some blood tests
> and gave him some fluids being that he was dehydrated. I got two
> medicines for him: chloramphen susp., and pediapred. The vet
> mentioned some intestinal diseases or wasting diseases. We will get
> the bloodwork back in a day or two. I was just wondering if anyone
> has had any similar experiences and how serious these problems can
> end up being. Thanks for your help!!
> ~Kim and Monet~

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