From:
Meri Martin - Scales & Tails Rescue
Date: 2004-03-03 19:23:08 UTC
Subject: Strange lumps - update and more questions
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <21648882.1078343374774.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>
Hello,
I posted last week about my 9 month old ferret who suddenly developed odd
lumps on his back, along with lethargy. A biopsy on the lumps was done
last week, and sent to the lab. He came home after the surgery for the
biopsy, but was not eating or drinking. I caged him alone, and syringe fed
chicken gravy several times a day, along with sub-q fluids. He continued
to be extremely lethargic, unable or unwilling to move - not even when he
voided his bladder or bowels. Yesterday during my lunchtime trip home to
give him food and fluids, he was breathing with an open mouth in short
sharp breaths. Called the vet and we went in right after work.
We spent 3 hours there last night, had x rays and bloodwork
done. Bloodwork was normal except a slightly elevated white blood cell
count. X rays showed a lot of gas in the abdomen, and he was very
sensitive to palpitation of the abdomen. He stayed at the vet's last night
since she wanted to do a barium trace.
Spoke to doc this morning, they did not do the barium trace because he was
retching a bit last night and she didn't want to force anything down him if
he was feeling like vomiting. He was also grinding his teeth. We decided
to do an ultrasound this morning and see if that would show any obstructions.
I just got off the phone with Doc [Vet name removed by moderator] this afternoon(I
must be her
favorite person right now, lol).
Lots of news, but still no firm prognosis....
Ultrasound this morning - so much gas that they couldn't see much. Doc
[Vet name removed by moderator] went ahead and did an exploratory. Nothing - no
obstructions, no
tumors. Only thing odd was his spleen, it was very tan and mottled (which
she said can suggest cancer). They took a biopsy and sent it to their
(quicker) lab and should have results on that by Friday.
Lump biopsy - lab called, it is NOT cancer. However, the lab tech who did
the tests on the biopsy said it looks an awful lot like an inflammatory
skin condition that has only been seen rarely in ferrets, and affects the
whole body. Doc went online to a vet forum and could find NO answers
about it, it's not in any ferret med book, and she is going to try to go to
[vet school] tomorrow or Thursday and speak to [consultant] and see if she
knows anything about it. I will try and find out if they have a name for
this condition when I go see him this afternoon.
He is on metronidazole and they have added pred.
Diagnosis is still poor, considering his overall condition, but we are not
giving up yet, dammit.
Doc is completely stumped. She said she has NEVER had a ferret with
such a confusing diagnosis. She said there's a vet joke that ferrets
really only get 5 different illnesses....and this is just completely bizarre.
If anyone has any ideas or knows anything about this condition, I would
appreciate any input.
Thanks
Meri