From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2003-06-12 18:49:11 UTC
Subject: tentative good news on Chiclet
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com, ferret-list@cunyvm.cuny.edu
Message-id: <a06001200bb0e6bd83a65@[10.0.1.23]>
Chiclet came through her ultrasound well. Her spleen in up now so
that was biopsied during ultrasound but unfortunately it was not
possible to do a core biopsy of the node. No tumors were found.
Between that, a slight decrease in size of the node, and comparisons
of her cytology over the course of the illness her consulting
oncologist is now tentatively leaning toward thinking that a massive
infection is more likely. If it is infection then the cause remains
unknown and she is still at risk though she seems to have a little
bit of improvement overall (despite grinding now). Hopefully, more
will be known when her splenic biopsy results come back.
Reminder: this is a 6 month old female who suddenly presented early
last Wednesday afternoon with a massive popliteal node and who
rapidly went into high fevering. Early aspirates were slightly
bloody, but when later ones were done one stick got a lot of blood
which should not have been there but other(s) worked out fine. When
the results came in they were not clearly any specific cause. She
was not able to give much blood (I have to remember to ask for copies
of her medical reports.) but what could gotten clotted unusually
fast. Despite that it was able to be found that she is anemic and
her results were at the levels most commonly seen with lympho, in
contrast to the nodal aspirate and now the lack of growths.
If it is infection the Clavamox may not be touching it (or may only
do so in combination with injected Baytril) but the injected Baytril
does seem to have an effect that lasts about 18 hours or fewer; then
her fever has been usually popping back up for the hours till her
next shot and mechanical ways of reducing her body temp like cool
soaks have been used effectively.
She is now having Carafate due to the mild grinding which began in
just the last two (? -- I've lost track of time) days and that is
giving her noticeable comfort. She is eating babyfood or a/d with
heated water and Ferretone well but rejecting kibble the last few
days. Except for the expected extreme exhaustion, high fevers, huge
and tender node, swollen and tender area around the node, and the
rest mentioned here or in past posts there are no other pointers.
Her only aberrant stool was after a time with a lot of abdominal
manipulation to try to look for inflamed abdominal nodes so that
could have been mechanical.
We'll hopefully know more later.
She is a very sick little girl but we hope to pull her through this
despite everything, though we still know that the odds are not great,
especially since the other two who presented similarly both died
despite all efforts. With the node having a slight reduction and a
better chance of it not being lympho I feel like maybe she's got a
shot at it, though.
I am curious to learn the particulars on the other two ferrets who
presented similarly. Both of those were recent, right? (Or am I
mis-remembering on one?) Has anyone else encountered this
combination? I have to wonder if perhaps some unknown ferrets were
similar but were given up on, were too ill for many tests, or died
and didn't have necropsies with pathology. Please, contact me at
<sukiec@optonline.net>.
In terms of mental health she still loves being cuddled by people and
loves kissing us, is sleeping most of the time, and wants absolutely
nothing to do with any other ferrets right now which is not terribly
usual when one is very ill though it varies among individuals and
with degree of illness (Yes, we checked for wounds and splinters --
repeatedly including with wet fur which made it easier -- in case
that played into it but none have been found so far, but we left a
message that our vet should feel free to shave her as much as desired
to do an inspection that is even closer if he thinks it would make
sense.)