From:
sheziwa@gis.net
Date: 2004-03-16 14:48:07 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] does this sound like lymphoma (long post)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <107944820201@mx05.gis.net>
Hi Kim--
> from what I've read on this site an X-ray wouldn't necessarily show a
> hairball.
It would show the gas and distension caused by a non-radio-opaque
blockage. Assuming the object was not showing up on film but did
exist, you could then do a barium study. The barium shows the path
of the GI tract and where the problem is located, and it can make
the object visible by coating it.
>
> > Have you tried him on a hypoallergenic diet? He could have a
> > food sensitivity (chicken/corn are big culprits).
>
> I've suggested this, the vet doesn't seem to think it will help,
If you don't mind my saying, your vet has a weirdly negative attitude!
Sounds like she's decided that nothing is worth trying. So she
certainly should not be offended by your getting a 2nd opinion--
who *wouldn't* want one, given that DVM's outlook?!
BTW--food trial is definitely worth a shot, but be aware it can take
weeks, even a couple of months before you see change. When
starting the food trial, you could do 2 weeks of pred and maybe
loperamide to see if that affects this possibly inflammatory process.
If the food trial works, the hard part is finding a good kibble that
doesn't contain chicken. You really have to read labels carefully.
And frequently. When Purina started adding chicken to the
previously 'safe' Turkey/barley formula, it took me months to
realize that this was why my IBD guy was no longer responding to
his pred. :-(
>
> > Has he had an intestinal or gastric biopsy?
> the Vet doesn't think the exploratory is worth it. And she had said that
> if what she finds is really bad, she would not recommend reviving him.
> That is what I am struggling with,
OK, I am NOT a vet, but I must say that his symptoms have been so
chronic---if it was cancer he would already be dead. ALTHOUGH,
long-term GI problems seem to be linked to the development of
cancer and Harley could be at this point. However, the only sure
way to diagnose that is with exploratory and biopsy. Also, biopsy
can indicate if IBD is the problem. And if he did have a shifting
hairball in his gut, they would find that too.
Just the other day, literally, I was forced to make a similar
decision--open him up and solve the problem, or open him up to
find the problem has no solution and now he's gotta recover from
surgery only to....
Well, we did solve part of the problem, but not totally. But at
least I can rule out a lot of possibilities, and know what the
problem is *not*. My guy is having a Very Slow recovery, so I have
had quite a lot of time to think about my decision. But I think it
was the way to go.
I think you should absolutely go see someone else. If your
current vet is insulted, too bad. What's more important, Harley's
life or her ego?
You have nothing to lose and potentially alot to gain so go for it! :-)
Skyla