Message Number: SG8997 | New FHL Archives Search
From: twhitford@po-box.esu.edu
Date: 2004-06-02 04:18:23 UTC
Subject: Splenic torsion- vets please help
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2535811.1086149903116.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>

Cubby, my beautiful little girl, died unexpectedly while I was out of town. My ferret sitter took her to the local veterinary emergency hospital, but she died before the vet could find what was wrong.

A necropy was performed by our regular vet when I returned, and he said that Cubby's spleen was twisted and the blood vessels were crimped. Her spleen, which was much enlarged to begin with, had become massively congested. The vet couldn't find anything else wrong, and somewhat tentatively stated that the cause of death was splenic torsion.

I am heartbroken, and need to understand what happened.

Has anyone else observed this in a ferret? I've heard that it's fairly common in dogs.

What causes splenic torsion? Is there any way it could have been prevented? Over what time period might it develop? How might it have been detected/diagnosed when she first began to act sick? Might she have been saved by emergency surgery?

Thank you in advance for any answers you can provide.

Cubby's Mom