From:
"Sue Liszewski"
Date: 2004-05-08 21:39:45 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Cody's Spleen
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <BAY15-F5fYITGPv0JvL000251fb@hotmail.com>
In general if it ruptures you don't have much time. Signs are usu shock,
pale gums. They usu bleed out before you can do much, however if he
survives and you can get him a transfusion at that time, if he survives
surgery the chances are good. Problem would be it there was cancer of the
spleen, because if there is by the time it ruptures you have now showered
the entired abdominal cavity with cancer cells and the prognosis is not
good. Did they ever use antibiotics with him? Sometimes this will help
bring it down. The splenectomy itself is generally straight forward but if
there is more going on when she gets in there then she was able to see on an
x ray it could become far more complicated. Ask questions, has she done it
how often and explain your concerns especially about how you percieved what
she said so that you both have the full picture. I think she might be able
to explain what she means and it might help you feel better about it. Many
ferrets live with enlarged spleens without a problem and it is usu due to a
benighn condition called extramedulary hematopoiesis. When it gets hard, or
has a odd shape, or is so large it compromises the ferret etc. then it
should be removed to prevent a more serious problem. I hope this helps
provide some insight. Good luck to you and Cody.
Dr. Sue
>From: "Lynn Mac Farlane" <gypsi@atlantic.net>
>Reply-To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
>Subject: [ferrethealth] Cody's Spleen
>Date: Sat, 8 May 2004 14:30:00 -0400
>
>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
>
>
>
>
>
>--
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>
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