From:
mjanke@miamiferret.org
Date: 2005-06-20 16:33:44 UTC
Subject: RE: Hard belly
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5722380.1119285224258.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> Mike, that is what I was thinking. Should I take her to the vet? I've read that spleens can rupture if too large. Or is it pretty common?
Yes, I would have her examined. Large spleens are not uncommon, and if they get large enough, they can rupture or displace other organs. They can also be enlarged for reasons that are not good, such as lymphoma, though it doesn't have to be something like that to become enlarged.
I have a photo of a large spleen removed from a ferret in which the vet is showing the size of the ferret in comparison to the size of the spleen. It's amazing how big they can get.
If you'd like to see that photo, go to...
http://fhc.miamiferret.org/faq.htm
And you'll see it in the column on the right. Click on the photo for a larger version.