From:
"Fuzzy Logic"
Date: 2003-07-25 02:44:30 UTC
Subject: Bruising
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <Sea1-F36cOV1EetVoMD000050fb@hotmail.com>
Hello -
I have some questions about bruising after a blood draw. Gas wasn't used
and the sample was taken from the jugular vein. I heard four, separate and
extended screams but didn't know they were coming from a ferret, mine, until
later. The doctor said she didn't wiggle, squirm, or attempt to bite, that
she just started screaming when she was scruffed, even when the syringe of
Ferretone I brought from home was offered. Later that day her neck, chest,
underarms, and farther down and across her stomach started bruising. It
looked absolutely horrible - very dark red to dark purple to dark blue to
black. The areas were quite swollen and where the needle had been inserted
looked very irritated. She continued to bruise and it continued to spread
until Friday (7-18). Late Saturday a few areas had started to lighten up a
little.
The bruises looked so bad and covered such a large area so I took her to
a different vet (because the original one wasn't available) the following
day (Tuesday of last week). The second vet said the needle went completely
through the jugular vein (in one side and out the other) and that, coupled
with the fact that the needle probably had Heparin on it, caused the
bleeding and bruising. He also said there's a nerve located very close to
the jugular vein and that it may have been hit with the needle, thereby
causing her to scream like she did.
So, does this sound about right? If so, is there anything I should be
concerned about in the future? Like, scar tissue in or around the jugular
vein, damage to the nerve that may have been hit, etc?
I don't know if this could be related or not, but for the past two days
she has had difficulty swallowing and sounds as though something is stuck in
her throat. Today there has been some occasional fluid or congestion sounds,
possibly from her nose. I took a look and there's a red streak, top to
bottom, in the middle. Her stools look normal but I've been giving Petromalt
and soup. Could this be from her screaming ten days ago? Could it take that
long for signs or symptoms to appear if she aspirated some of the Ferretone?
I really don't want to stress her again by taking her back to a vet too
soon, but will if she needs to be seen.
Thanks in advance for any ideas or information.
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