From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-05-17 02:46:30 UTC
Subject: RE: Vets: Elevated Calcium = agressive lymphoma
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6317236.1053139590440.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Dear Meg - I am sorry for your loss.
It is likely that the lymphoma was well advanced at the time of surgery - it likely didn't incite it to grow any faster.
Hypercalcemia is an uncommon finding in ferrets with lymphoma, but has been well-documented. It is far more common in dogs and cats though (we call it hypercalcemia of malignancy).
Anything else you could have done - no. Lymphoma is very much a silent killer - you had some premonitory signs, but many ferrets don't even show that - they are simply found dead.
This is a tragedy, but a common one. Don't blame yourself for anything here -
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
Author wrote:
>
> 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.