From:
"Amy Seyler"
Date: 2003-06-11 02:27:49 UTC
Subject: Re: Crystals in bladder
To: "FHL" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <005201c32fc1$1122e900$b7222304@dslverizon.net>
Many years ago we had a similar situation with a Marshall Farms ferret. I b=
ought her at the pet store at 8 weeks old and by the time she was six month=
s, she couldn't urinate properly. The vet thought it was a bladder infectio=
n so we went through two different rounds of antibiotics, to no avail. I go=
t a second opinion and the Xrays revealed the stones.
She had two removed from her bladder at that time, both the size of cherry =
pits. Within six months she once again showed symptoms of bladder stones, a=
nd had about 6-8 more removed. The tricky thing about these stones is they =
consisted of cystine, which is commonly found in dog stones, but rarely in =
ferrets or cats. I desperately tried to save her life by sitting down with =
my vet, who was stumped, and going through his medical books. He contacted =
another vet he knew and we tried an experimental drug combination.
She had one more surgery after that for stones. But the medication, though =
experimental, worked. She eventually had a bilateral adrenalectomy, insulin=
oma and cardio before she passed on shortly before her 8th birthday.
Amy, Dave, Sarah & Paul (and their gaggle of giggling ferrets)
RIP Ian, Elektra, Claudia, Sidney & Max
Missing Tasha