From:
Ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2005-02-22 01:28:18 UTC
Subject: Re: i would like to get your ideas about what has happened to my ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8a.2127537b.2f4be4b2@aol.com>
First of all, I am sorry for your loss both of the kits and now of their
mother.
As far as the kits go, I would be far more concerned about a possible virus
having been brought into the house either by the newly added ferret or
inadvertently on clothing, etc. The one surviving kit may simply have been more
resistant to it. The description you give of what you fed the kits and how you
cared for them certainly seems adequate.
With regards to the mother, lymphoma tends to be far more widespread in the
body than insulinoma, and lymphoma involving the pancreas can certainly cause a
decreased blood sugar, as can any other systemic illness, actually. The
histopathology is very different between lymphocytes and pancreatic cells, so the
fact that the pathologists feel that it was lymphoma, along with the
widespread lesions that you mention, makes me believe that it probably was. Gastric
ulcers can be caused by any stress, or it is possible that the lymphoma involved
the stomach as well and that that lead to the ulceration.
There is some suspicion of a viral cause for ferret lymphoma, but that has
not yet been conclusively proven, so it is very difficult to say if your other
ferrets are at any risk.
Again, my sympathy for your losses.
Dr. Ruth
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Puppies kiss better than most people.