From:
tulip7171@yahoo.com
Date: 2003-10-31 23:46:32 UTC
Subject: Viral Infection, Lymphoma or Hairball?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7329753.1067643992860.JavaMail.root@indium.smartgroups.com>
Hello All,
This might get a little long, I want to make sure I give as much info & history as I can.
In August, I took Frank, 3yr., to the vet because of lethargy and diarrhea. While there he passed what the tech said was a large hairball. A standard x-ray looked normal. CBC indicated elevated lymphocytes (not sure of exact percentage). Chem. Panel was normal. The vet opted to just have me observe, no meds. His energy returned and the diarrhea went away. Figured the hairball he passed had been causing him discomfort & a slight infection.
About a week ago, I noticed his energy was way down and some intermitent diarrhea. Wednesday I took him in. His weight is up by two onces since August but it doesn't feel like his normal winter gain. His appetite is normal. CBC indicated low WBC (1700) and elevated lymphocytes (59%). Standard x-ray looked normal except for *maybe* a slightly distended stomach. He has no palpable swollen lymph nodes. The vet thought it might be a viral infection, though his cagemates are fine. The diarrhea does not appear to be ECE (not the noxious green color, though there seemed to be a strong odor of rotten eggs) and I have never had ECE in my house. He is currently on Clavamox- 0.2cc/62.5mg/ml and Pepcid- 0.43cc/1mg/ml.
He goes back to the vet on Nov. 8. If he's not better by then they'll do a Chem. Panel. The vet said we might have to do a lymph node biopsy or exploratory if that doesn't tell us anything. My question is, does this sound like a virus or lymphoma or could it possibly be a hairball in his stomach? The slight distention of his stomach has stuck in my brain as significant. He has not had a barium series yet. Should I ask for that before the lymph node biopsy? I do go to a clinic with very knowledgable ferret vets, but my intuition says we're looking in the wrond direction, of course I am terrified of the idea of lymphoma, so maybe my intuition is just denial.
Thank you for any opinions or advise you can give,
Lisa
End of ferrethealth Digest
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