From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2004-12-16 19:48:37 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] lethargy and excessiveitching
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3594177.1103226517158.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
> I was faced with a similar presentation from my ferret Pan
> around Halloween (lethargy, itching, pale gums and nose), and
> it turned out that he had developed a fast-acting form of
> lymphoma. With supportive care, he's still with us, but he
Another possibility is that there is anemia secondary to adrenal disease and that can rapidly become fatal.
Try calling the hospital and let them know that the symptoms seen are ones which can point ot some possibly serious causes.
If you are working retail management and busy 12 to 14+ hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week at work this season (Yes, I've been there in my past.) then there are three options for you:
1. See if the hospital will allow you to drop off your ferret in their pre-office hour time when they are there but not open to the public
2. Arrange for a friend or a local ferret person to take in your ferret, or to drop off and later pick up your ferret
3. Arrange for an after hours emergency appointment.
Just as with humans there simply are symptoms that "won't keep", but instead mean that a faster appointment is needed to find the cause and correct it in a rapid fashion if it is a serious one.
(BTW, it is also possible and not terribly unusual for two common ferret health problems, adrenal neoplasia and insulinoma, to occur together and together they can produce these symptoms. In that case the vet can tackle both at the same time.)