From:
"Mellisa Eberle"
Date: 2004-07-06 06:00:46 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] reoccurance of DIC a possiblity? HELP
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <2814081.1089140331865.JavaMail.nobody@chromium.smartgroups.com>
> Does anyone know what causes DIC and if anything can be done in advance if
there is a possibility of a recurrence?
DIC always has some type of an underlying cause. It is most often seen
following a severe trauma or cancer (in ferrets, adrenal or pancreatic
tumors). The chances for survival depends on treating the underlying
problem to the DIC complication and trying to counter the effects.
In Boo's case, she had no symptoms of Insulinoma before literally crashing
one evening due to low blood sugar. She had emergency surgery to remove a
large tumor from her Pancreas. Shortly after her surgery, her Pancreas began
to swell. My vet explained that her chances for DIC survival depended upon
whether or not her Pancreas continued to swell, or even remain the same (she
required Heparin treatments as well). Thankfully, the Pancreatic swelling
post-op started to diminish, thus eliminating the underlying cause. Had the
swelling even remained the same, she probably would not be alive tonight.
Hope this helps.
Mellisa
[Moderator's note: please, note earlier posts from Veterinary Pathologist, Dr. Bruce
Williams on why insulinoma and adrenal tumors should preferably not usually be
called "cancer" but instead called "neoplasia" and see follow-up post on the topic
today. Neoplasia, even ones which are not cancer, certainly CAN be
incredibly serious -- which was part of Melissa's point above.]