Message Number: SG13142 | New FHL Archives Search
From: s.m.owens@rogers.com
Date: 2005-03-17 13:03:11 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Enlarged spleen - complicated, need input
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3346521.1111075394136.JavaMail.nobody@magnesium.smartgroups.com>

Thanks Dr. Sue.

I managed to find the article Dr. Williams wrote at:
http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/med/spleen.html

I will be bringing this in to my vet when I pick her up this evening. Luckily, he was
there when I dropped her off and I told him I wanted to start her on a round of
heavy antibiotics before we look at surgery. I'm not going to wait for the bloodwork
results because even if there's no infection, it couldn't hurt her.

As for her asthma, I was having Singulair compounded. Because she's the first
ferret that I know of being on it, I kept her dose to a minimum. Unfortunately, it
wasn't very successful. Perhaps a larger dose may help, and we may end up having
to do that this fall. The asthma was so bad last fall that I ended up having to give
her dex injections several times - it was the only thing that would help. She was
initially on pred, but it got to a point where she was needing a minimum of 1 cc (at
least twice a day) for it to have any effect at all. I do not feel comfortable using the
conventional methods of treating asthma in animals (cats, dogs) ie: bronchial
dialators (puffers) because of the long list of side effects. Hence my research and
decision to try Singulair. I just recently purchased a top of the line air purifier as
well in the hopes that her attacks will be reduced to a minimum.

As for treating her with antibiotics - any in particular you'd recommend at this
point? Length of treatment?

Thanks so very much for your help.
Suzanne

Author wrote:
> Suzzane,
> Based on the condition of your kid he may not be a great surgical candiate
> and your vet shoud be willing to try something different. Is he on meds for
> his asthma? I have seen severe infections including heliobactor infections
> cause splenomegaly. I treated with amoxi and Biaxin long term and pred for