From:
"Lynn Mac Farlane"
Date: 2004-05-08 18:30:00 UTC
Subject: Cody's Spleen
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <LPBBLMGAINDPLIFEALMAMEHPGCAA.gypsi@atlantic.net>
Cody is a approx 6 yr old male ferret. About 2 yrs ago he had his left
adrenal gland & 2/3rds of his right removed. He also had some nodes removed
from his pancreas. He does now have Insulinoma. I believe he also has IBD.
He is on pred twice a day.
A little while back, maybe a month & a half or so he was taken to a vet, who
said he had an enlarged spleen. He was sent to another vet who said the
same thing. There was no discussion about removing it.
Lately he has been moaning when he goes potty & when he is sleeping &
sometimes when he walking around. When he pees, there is a lot of it. He
was sent back to one of the vets yesterday. She took an X-ray & I believe
a CBC. On the X-Ray his spleen is now so big that it is blocking out all
the other organs. All you can see is the spleen. She said that perhaps
because it seems to be pressing on his other organs, that is what is causing
him to be in pain, especially when he goes potty. She said that she should
have the test results from the blood by Monday. She mentioned surgery to
remove it but I feel she isn't comfortable doing it as she commented that it
was complicated. Viewing 2 other surgeries where the spleen was removed, it
didn't look all that complicated to me, but then this may be a different
situation. When should a spleen be removed, before it gets this large or
now? Should I insist on surgery?
In the meantime I am worried that his spleen will rupture. What would cause
it to get so big & what if anything would be an alternative to surgery in
reducing it? I have others with enlarged spleens but nothing like this.
His tummy is very big & hard. Someone asked me if his spleen was enlarged &
forgetting that he was just diagnosed with it a short time ago, I said that
I couldn't even feel it as his tummy area is so big & hard. He is on some
pain medicine but I noticed that it wasn't helping him that much. After
having it in his system a few hours he still moaned when he went potty.
What do I look for in case it does rupture? What would be the signs? How
long would he have to live afterwards? If it ruptures should he just be put
to sleep or would there be hope with surgery at that time? I ask so I can
judge where to take him if it happens. Naturally this being the weekend I
am worried that it will happen now.
Sincerely,
Lynn & Clan War Weasels Refuge