Message Number: SG9009 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2004-06-04 00:56:58 UTC
Subject: Splenic torsion Re: [ferrethealth] Digest 3 Jun 2004 13:39:42 -0000 Issue 689
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <9.2b194066.2df122da@aol.com>

In a message dated 06/03/04 9:39:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
ferrethealth-digest-help@smartgroups.com writes:
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?

Splenic torsion is not all that common, but can occur, especially when the
spleen is enlarged, as you say this one was. It is a very acute thing - signs
will begin pretty rapidly after the spleen twists. No known preventive that
I'm aware of. Treatment is immediate surgical removal of the spleen, which does
not save the life of the animal in all cases. Diagnosis - this can be
tricky, but sometimes can be done by palpation and/or x-rays, sometimes only by
ultrasound.

I'm sorry about your little girl.

Dr. Ruth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find it. Fix it. And fly again.