Message Number: SG8923 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "katharine"
Date: 2004-05-25 09:08:13 UTC
Subject: Re: Nutritional Needs
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <25919971.1085491235757.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>

Thank you, Gail and Dr. Sue, for your suggestions. Without going into a lengthy
history, Kingsley is a very special case. Given a less than 10% chance of survival in
November, both by vets in New Orleans and [a vet school] and a couple of phone
consultations with ferret specialists, he is still with us now. He was transported to
Florida from Louisiana. Thanks to the skilled hands of a top-notch ferret surgeon in
Florida, who was willing to give him a chance, he is still with us. He's not entirely
healthy, but he is doing quite well, under the circumstances.

You can see pictures up him pre- and post-op here:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/45664916/106746339PiOYrD
http://community.webshots.com/photo/45664916/106746546NIUqXu

And, a picture of the tumor (transitional cell carcinoma) that was removed is here:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/80883294/106745054VCGjTZ

Because of his history, and on-going problems from a situation that was allowed to
continue much too long by his previous unknown owners, we are proceeding very
slowly and carefully with him. He's not the strongest little boy and I want to make
sure that each step we take is in his best interest. He also has adrenal disease and
we are trying to manage it medically. The two vets who attend to him are both
trying to proceed cautiously with him. For this reason, I am leery of further
surgeries unless they are absolutely necessary.

I will mention a hairball/obstruction to my local vet today. He may do a barium
series if he thinks the signs point to one. He will be consulting with others and
doing a few tests today to see if he can pin-point the problem.

Thanks again for your suggestions and help.

Katharine