From:
lorichristian@earthlink.net
Date: 2004-04-22 03:34:53 UTC
Subject: help please - enormous right adrenal but no adrenal 'symptoms'
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2709412.1082604893682.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hi All -
I'm in a quandary. Here's the situation.
While our usual vet was on vacation Mojo (6 1/2 yr old neutered male w/history of ibd and ulcers) was quite lethargic, was having difficulty breathing, and his abdomen seemed swollen.
Took Mojo to a vet with some ferret experience. X-rays showed pneumonia, some fluid, lots of fat (likely due to prednisone use for ibd), and a suspicious looking mass in his abdomen.
Follow-up ultrasound today showed that Mojo's right adrenal is 2.69 cm by 2.94 cm and his left is .2 cm by .29 cm. Obviously that's not normal! However, Mojo has absolutely none of the classic outward symptoms -- not one.
Vet is recommending surgery to remove right adrenal. Would appreciate your thoughts on this. Has anyone else ever had a ferret present with a similar situation? I'm loathe to do surgery that isn't necessary and the cost is steep -- 800 - 1200 dollars. OTOH, if it'll do Mojo good in the long run, money is no object.
Have also emailed Mojo's regular vet for his opinion. Speaking of Mojo's regular vet, what usually happens in this situation? Does the vet who discovered the problem do the surgery as a rule or does the patient go back to the regular vet?
Thanks much-
Lori