From:
kopella@aol.com
Date: 2004-05-25 23:47:31 UTC
Subject: hiccups?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2623622.1085632899134.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Hello fellow ferret slaves. I have three ferrets two 3 yr olds and one 4 yr old. I'm having problems with two of them.
Tazz is my male, 3, neutered and about 2.5-3lbs. This weekend I noticed a hard lump in his abdomen. Took him to the vet where I work today and we are thinking its his spleen. He had an enlarged spleen when we did his annual vaccinations last September, but not this big. My regular ferret vet wasn't in today, I will work with him Saturday. He's not in any discomfort, eats/drink/poos/pees fine. Runs around and plays like crazy, wrestles with his sisters and his dog buddy. We took some xrays, but those were inconclusive, and couldn't get any blood for bloodwork. We'll see how it goes on Saturday. Any thoughts from those who've had to deal with this problem? I've read a little bit on it saying its not that bad and removal is reccomended if it causes the ferret discomfort.
Now the other one, Lilah is my 4 yr old, spayed female albino. I just noticed her lump tonight after we got home from work (of course) its on the side of her neck, very soft but noticable. I'm not sure what that could be, so she will also see the vet Saturday. She also acts perfectly normal, was chowing down on some food when I noticed the lump. I can't believe I didn't notice it before! Well think good thoughts Saturday when we go see the vet again.
Dooks,
Jamie M. R.V.T.
Mom to Tazz-the big boy, Mica-the little princess, Lilah-demon eyes
To: neinta@hotmail.com,
ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
From: Amy Robbin <arobbin@schange.com>
Message-ID: <OF63D1EF4D.3474ACBB-ON85256EA1.004D064A-85256EA1.004DE76A@schange.com>
I don't mean to sound insensitive, I know you're very concerned...but I
have to say your post made me laugh!
My little boy has been prone to hiccups lately (I believe it's because he
refuses to get out of the hammock when he gets a drink so his front paws
are on the floor but his rear is still in the hammock).
TYPICAL MAN!!!!!!!!!!! That's what you get for laying around in bed
drinking!
I also had a ferret (Male of course) who would get hiccups. Not
necessarily from not getting out of bed to drink ;-) but as he got older
it became less frequent. Technically (correct me if I'm wrong) a hiccup
is a convulsion of the diaphragm which disrupts the breathing pattern. I
wonder if you scruff him for a few moments if that would relax the
diaphragm enough for the breathing to resume to normal? Also, prolonged
hiccups do cause discomfort, but also if the hiccups are keeping him
awake, that may cause him to whimper too. I know I whine if hiccups are
keeping me from sleeping.
I don't have any advice...and hope you find an answer...but it did give me
a chuckle...sorry!
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
From: neinta@hotmail.com
Message-ID: <3843942.1085528851797.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
My little boy has been prone to hiccups lately (I believe it's because he
refuses to get out of the hammock when he gets a drink so his front paws
are on the floor but his rear is still in the hammock). Last night he got
them and he still had them this morning (one hiccup a minute or so). Is
there any way to help alleviate them once he gets them? About 4am he
would hiccup and then let out a little whimper like it was hurting him. I
took him out of his cage and let him sleep in my bed so he would stop
waking up his sister and the poor boy hiccupped all morning. He wasn't
whimpering like that when I got him up at 8am but he was still hiccupping
(not as often). He just looks and sounds so pathetic. They had stopped by
noon but all night is a long time to be hiccupping. He's slept most of
the afternoon because he's so tired from last night.
Amy Robbin
Manager, Human Resources
SeaChange International, Inc.
Phone: (978) 897-0100