From:
parker99@cox.net
Date: 2005-01-08 08:44:34 UTC
Subject: Question about tumor found in surgery
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7290989.1105173874424.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
My one year old Capi had surgery this morning for a suspected blockage. Th=
e Dr. successfully found the small piece of foamy earplug that was causing =
all the trouble in his stomach(due to gas seen in the small intestine on th=
e x-ray he was a bit surprised when he found it in the stomach). He also fo=
und a tumor at the entrance to the small intestine. It was removed and sent=
for biopsy. I know that waiting for the results is the only way to get a =
definitive answer but in the mean time I am driving myself crazy with quest=
ions that I can't find answers for with google. I know the worst case scen=
ario...gastric lymphoma. I know that this form of lymphoma does not respon=
d well to chemo and that his chances are slim if this is what he has. What=
I am wondering is how common are benign gastic tumors? =
His symptoms all fit in with the blockage. Diarrhea with bits of the foa=
m earplug in it, refusal to eat or drink, teeth grinding, soar belly, minor=
weight loss(we had him on a good feeding schedule), sudden lethargy and li=
stlessness. This all started last week. We took him to the vet (who speci=
alizes in ferrets) right away...fecal, full blood work-up, x-rays after whi=
ch they concluded that there was nothing wrong with him. They gave him flui=
ds and sent him home with amoxi for "just in case". I watched him closely =
and he seemed to improve over the next week (normal stool, good energy, dri=
nking water but still not eating on his own). Last night he had a large am=
ount of diarrhea, the teeth grinding started and he wasn't as playful altho=
ugh still alert and active. Went to a different vet who took his situation=
much more serious and put him in for surgery this morning. Is there a bet=
ter prognosis if the tumor is caught early? I am hoping this is the case a=
nd that perhaps his swallowing the ear plug was a blessing in disguise othe=
rwise we wouldn=92t have found the tumor so quickly since his blood work se=
ems fine (according to both vets)
Another symptom that I only recently found out could be a problem is some=
thing we assumed he did because he is deaf. In the middle of playing or e=
xploring he will freeze and trance out with a blank stare on his face. If =
you wave your hand in front of his face he doesn't flinch. Possible seizur=
es??? Thank you in advance for any advice you can toss our way....we are h=
oping for the best.
Here is his blood work.
HCT=3D 44.5%
HGB=3D 14.2 g/dl
MCHC+ 31.9 g/dl
WBC # 10.1 x 10 to the 9th power/L
GRANS # 4.9 x 10 to the 9th/L
%GRANS # 49%
L/M =3D 5.2 x 10 to the 9th/L
%L/M # 51%
PLT > 476 x 10 to the 9th/L
Retics ~ 1.8%
NRBC ~likely
Results based on adult canine cell size
Granulocytes (1)
Red cells have not seperated cleanly from granulocytes. To confirm results=
, verify proper location of RBC/granulocyte boundary on buffy coat profile,=
or examine a blood smear.
=
ALB =3D 2.38 g/dl
ALKP =3D 46 U/L
ALT =3D 68 U/L
AMYL =3D 10 U/L
BUN =3D 16.8 mg/dl
Ca =3D 8.65 mg/dl
CHOL =3D 149.9 mg/dl
CREA =3D 0.67 mg/dl
GLU =3D 162.8 mg/dl
PHOS =3D 5.68 mg/dl
TBIL =3D 0.22 mg/dl
TP =3D 5.35 g/dl
GLOB =3D 2.97 g/dl
Na =3D 152.7 mmol/l
K =3D 4.68 mmol/l
Cl =3D 116.6 mmol/l
=
=