From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-07-09 17:35:55 UTC
Subject: RE: Enlarged spleen??
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4549998.1120930555263.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
First off, you are not cleaning his ears with hydrogen peroxide or a homema=
de water based solution, right? Doing so can set up some ferrets for repea=
ted fungal infections. You will find a past post on this in =
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=3DYG6395
which reads
BEGIN QUOTE
Just noticed this thread on hydrogen peroxide, and use in ears, etc. =
Here's the skinny on hydrogen peroxide - it can be used in some =
instances to clean wounds, etc., but usually only in the initial =
phases. =
Hydrogen peroxide has both good and bad properties. The good =
properties of peroxide are that a) it fizzes upon contact with =
tissue. Now if you have a lot of dirt in a wound, bacteria, etc., =
this action can bring some material to the surface that would =
otherwise sit in a wound - so this physical action is beneficial. =
B) Peroxide has a mild anti-bacterial effect (although alcohol and =
iodine are stronger against bacteria. Adding peroxide to tissues =
liberates oxygen-containing free radicals which will work against =
bacteria at least in some fashion. However, it also works against =
healthy tissue as well. =
c) It doesn't hurt. =
Now for the bad parts: =
1) Wounds treated with hydrogen peroxide heal more slowly. Most =
hospitals and doctors recommend against using peroxide as a =
repetitive cleansing agent for wounds. =
2) After the fizz is gone, hydrogen peroxide becomes simple water. =
This makes it a very bad choice for an ear cleaner. I far prefer an =
astringent for use in ears. Using peroxide overtime is just like =
pouring water into your ferrets ears, and eventually you will end up =
with an infection. =
3) Unlike iodine solutions (like betadine, etc.) there is absolutely =
no residual antibacterial action. =
For routine cleansing of wounds, water with a little bit of soap, or =
a little bit of an iodine-containing soap is the way to go. For =
ears, the combinationof a ceruminolytic applied first (something that =
dissolves wax), followed by an alcohol-based product for cleaning =
(which will help dry up moist ears) is the most appropriate way to go. =
With kindest regards, =
Bruce Williams, DVM =
END QUOTE
Are you sure the problem is the spleen? There are other possibilities. Her=
e are three:
Enlarged spleen
Water-balloon belly
Fat redistribution from adrenal neoplasia
Ferrets often get enlarged spleens. They just seem to be very prone to it.=
Too large and they impact on the ability to move waste through the colon,=
though, and that is uncomfortable but can be helped -- in some cases --wit=
h carefully and gently done massage that a vet can demonstrate. For some, =
the spleen is just so large that rupture is possible and then massage shoul=
d be avoided. Your vet will consider the possibility of chronic infection =
(usually Helicobacter) so you may come home with at least a couple of weeks=
' worth of Biaxin, Amoxi, and liquid Carafate (a combo which is a lot easie=
r to give than the old one of Flagyl/Metronidizole, Amoxi, and Pepto, and t=
he earlier worse combo needs to be given longer). The vet may want to try =
a different combo. Your vet will also check the spleen for things like une=
ven margins or unevenness in the spleen itself indicating a possible malign=
ancy. Carrying around a big spleen can become uncomfy, so if the size can =
be gotten down that is good.
Water balloon belly: fluid in the abdomen is usually due to cardiomyopathy=
. There are many medical approaches for this. An ultrasound of the heart =
allows for designing the best approach for the given individual, and with c=
areful care and good luck some ferrets can get over a year with cardiomyopa=
thy, depending on numerous factors. You can find info on this in a compila=
tion in the Files section (where there is also a compilation on a less comm=
on form of heart disease in ferrets, A/V Node Block) in
http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/ferrethealth/cardiomyopathy.txt
and then add more recent info by using the Archives at
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
At times there are other causes for abdominal fluid, but they are less comm=
on.
Fat redistribution: With adrenal neoplasia it is not unusual for a ferret =
to have fat redistribute to the abdomen and away from the thorax. This hap=
pens some with age, too, but a sudden change would point to a medical conce=
rn rather than age. For adrenal neoplasia surgery is usually the best opti=
on but if a ferret is 8 years old there would need to be careful presurgica=
l blood tests and chest imaging to see if the ferret is even up to it, so a=
t that age a combination of Lupron Depot and melatonin -- with added meds a=
s needed for complications like prostate enlargement, may be the way to go,=
depending on the individual. See:
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/adrenal.htm
and
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/melatonin.htm
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