From:
kbrayslc@yahoo.com
Date: 2004-11-28 22:37:15 UTC
Subject: Sick ferret mystery...
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <546140.1101681435486.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Well, I am looking for any suggestions or idea on what could be wrong with =
my ferret before we have to admit defeat and let him go over the bridge.
Male Marshall Farms about 10 months old.
6 weeks ago he developed a lump almost over night on his left side just bel=
ow his midsection. Went to the vet after it double over night and the vet =
recommended immediate removal and testing. We did. The tumor appreared to =
be a tumor in the fatty tissue with no clear edges. Pathology showed that i=
t was primarily made up of fatty tissue sorta "gone crazy" is about as tech=
nical as I know.
We brought him home. He showed improvement for about 5 days with significa=
nt hind end weakness. On day 7 everything took a nose dive-he acted as if h=
e had had a lobatemy (sp?). Wouldn't eat or move. We went back to the vet =
who hospitalized him and started running bloodwork. Nothing showed up but =
extremely elevated white blood count (21000). So we decided it might be a =
blockage and approved exploratory surgery. No blockage was found but the V=
et removed an enlarged adrenal (size of a kidney bean). He was kept in the=
hospital for another 4 days with no sign of improvement. We brought him ho=
me for about 3 days and then back to the vet for another 7 days. White bloo=
d count was up to 28000 We have had him home now for 14 days. There has b=
een no improvement. He is feed 3-5 times a day. Will only take water when =
squirted in his mouth. Feedings take about 45-60 min each-sometimes he lap=
s the AD from a spoon other times it is fed from a syringe if he won't eat.=
He moves about 6 inches in an attempt to poop and pee out of his bedding.=
We have to wash him everytime. He will look around and hold his head up b=
ut wont move otherwise. =
He appears to be in no pain. Is sleepy. Just yesterday his medicines ran =
out and he seems perkier since. Yesterday, we also discovered what looked =
like a healing absess on his left side-but we all agree we have held him fo=
r hours per day for weeks and have felt nothing. We have put anitbiotic oi=
ntment and it appears to be disappearing.
I am a long time ferret owner who has lived through 4 adrenal cancers and I=
am totally stumped. Any thoughts/suggestions? =
We have had hope but it is running out and this is no quality of life for o=
ur beloved Dewey. Any thoughts are welcome and appreciated! =
Thank you,
Kimberly
ps-sorry for the length and the poor spelling-Im exhausted! =
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