From:
Quarrius@aol.com
Date: 2003-05-15 16:15:08 UTC
Subject: Vets: Elevated Calcium = agressive lymphoma
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <f4.2c845d58.2bf5170c@aol.com>
This is my frist experience with Lymphoma--so I am a bit confused at the
progression.
Littlewhitegirl had a normal calcium lvl during bloodwork, three weeks ago.
After a weekend of waht we thought was an Addison's crash
(post-surgery)--flopping to the side, dehydrated, lack of appitite, staring
into space along with a few other odd behaviors : crying when using the
litter box, grunting when moving around and extreme lethargy, we took her to
the vet.
She had a calcium of 13, fairly normal bloodwork (for post op). Slightly low
ALB, but a high BUN.
Assuemd to be addison's crash and we kept her in ICU overnight for fluid
flush, temp controlled environment and oxygen-- hoping to get the levels back
to normal.
I saw her 5pm on Tuesday--she was alert (more than she had been), eyes
bright, moving around with less grunting
I got a call yesterday AM ~7:30. She was showing neurologic symptoms, re-ran
bloodwork and calcium read >16 (machine maxed out at 16).
BUN only dropped to 78.
We tried to get to the vet in time, but she collaped and passed away ~10am at
the vets.
I feel horrible she was alone--but I am also wondering if I did anything.
I have talked with the Vet FOREVER about this--but I don't know if there is
anything else I could have done. We only got the biopsy results back
yesterday that she had lymphoma (results from the lymph node and liver)--she
had surgery exactly one week prior.
Does lymphoma usually spread this quick? Did the surgery aggravate it? Her
WBC were within normal range and nothing on the pre-op bloodwork caused
alarm.
The vet says that elevated calcium levels aren't that common but when they
are, it is usually parathyroid tumor (never seen in ferrets) or lymphoma..
Is there anything we could have done once the calcium level got that high? Is
there a med to bring down the levels?
I miss her.
thanks for any help you can give..
Meg