From:
tulip7171@yahoo.com
Date: 2003-11-11 20:36:18 UTC
Subject: RE: Viral Infection, Lymphoma or Hairball?or IBD-UPDATE
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <461476.1068582978930.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> 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.
Sat. Nov. 8 Frank went back to the vet. He's still a bit lethargic and every once in a while he has diarrhea. He's eating and drinking well and still gaining weight. During the abdominal palpitation he reacted to slight pressure in the mid-region. The Dr. felt no masses. His CBC came back with a WBC of 7000 and Lymphocytes at 75%. The Dr. mentioned maybe an adhesion or his pancreas might be inflamed (BG 120). We discussed possible damage due to ECE, though to my knowledge he's never had it. I got him at about 8-10 weeks of age, from a pet store, but as I recall he did not have any symptoms ie neon green diarrhea, anorexia, weight loss.
The Dr. recommended exploratory surgery. He plans on taking an intestinal biopsy and biopsying anything else that looks out of place.
Right now Frank is on Flagyl. 0.35cc 50mg/ml 2x a day for 10 days. He seems to be doing better and is even taking his meds like a champ, though I can tell he doesn't like it.
My question is, without the intestinal biopsy, does this appear to maybe be IBD or could it be a hairball or is there still a chance it could be Lympho? And are there any less drastic/costly diagnostics to figuring this out besides surgery? My instincts tell me to go ahead with the surgery, figuring the Dr. will probably have to go in anyway (still thinking hairball), but if there's a way, I don't want to put Frankie through anything unnecessary.
Thanks for any opinions or advice,
Lisa