Message Number: SG9106 | New FHL Archives Search
From: sukie crandall
Date: 2004-06-09 15:48:05 UTC
Subject: When is too old for surgery
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-id: <18E5DEAE-BA52-11D8-A642-000A95CD182C@optonline.net>

Any further info out there on PUs in ferrets and on catheterizing male
ferrets' bladders

Our vet is already aware of

http://www.petcarevabeach.com/ferretservices.html

and Peter Fisher, DVM who wrote the article there and in
January "Exotic" in 2001 in Clinician's Notebook.

He also is awaiting call-backs from some veterinary urinary tract
specialist consultants.

Young (1 year old) Hilbert is having some serious problems, origin
unknown but all options being investigated, and in his case it may be
urethral damage from a broken baculum given some observations in the
last few days (though it always possible the break had happened some
earlier time). He is hospitalized and holding his own with help while
cultures are done and consultants talked with.

Related info and suggestions desired, please.

To: lthompson@clarkdistribution.com,
ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
From: Amy Robbin <arobbin@schange.com>
Message-ID: <OF3477259C.FD586750-ON85256EAE.0056912B-85256EAE.005728C3@schange.com>

That would depend on your ferret's health and your vet's skill. I
recently had exploratory surgery on an 8+ yo MF Male with no problem. His
recovery is slower but he's fine. However I have younger ferrets who I
would be more concerned with doing surgery based on basic health. As they
get older I always have tests run first as well as a chest X-ray before
having surgery done just to be sure there are no (well fewer) hidden
dangers.