From:
cbaker@du.edu
Date: 2006-03-31 23:25:36 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Mysterious sudden fatality in Colorado
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Please offer any thoughts you have on the recent death of a ferret in my care. I am quite concerned about the unexplained nature, and also because my friend has two other ferrets, and I have five, all of which had contact with this sick ferret. Not to mention, this little guy, Roo, was the most beautiful, gentle ferret ever and we all loved him tremendously:
As I was petsitting Roo last week (almost 3 years old, neutered male, indoor only), I woke up one morning to find the ferret severely ill. He had been completely normal the previous evening, but I found him staggering, toes curling under, tipping over when trying to walk, listless and refusing treats. Appeared to be neurological. There was no vomiting or diarrhea, coughing or nasal discharge, nor did he appear to be in pain. Within an hour (on the way to the vet), he had become almost completely unresponsive and was hypersalivating.
Upon exam, the vet felt a large, golf-ball size mass, presumed to be a bowel obstruction. Glucose and temp. were both normal. X-rays did not show a foreign mass, but due to his deteriorating condition, the vet did an exploratory right away. No foreign objects, but found a grossly enlarged mesenteric lymph node and abnormal fluid in abdominal cavity. Pancreas, adrenals, and viscera all appeared healthy and normal, no bowel perf. The node was biopsied and the fluid sampled. (Also of note, the ferret appears to have been born w/out a spleen, which was discovered during the surgery.) Bloodwork was unremarkable.
Because there were no clear findings and pathology results wouldn't be back for a couple of days, the vet treated the ferret for a bacterial infection w/baytril and amoxy, along w/fluid therapy. (We had ruled out spider bite, poisoning and injury, but not lymphoma or infection.) The ferret accepted a food gruel via feeding syringe. We continued intensive care treatment and at the 36 hour mark, saw some improvement, with the ferret beginning to move on his own, using his papers and trying to walk some (though still with great difficulty). Diarrhea also developed at this point, but was not ECE "green." There was no fever, but his temp. did become low several times. Fluid management, antibiotics and hand feeding continued. Roo continued to improve slowly until about the 48 hour mark, then declined rapidly. The paralysis again spread to include all four limbs and eventually even swallowing. The ferret was euthanized on the fourth day.
A necroscopy was performed; by the time of death, all of the internal organs were affected in some way, but by what, we still don't know. The lymh node biopsy came back negative for lymphoma. A number of post-mortem samples have gone out, but it may be awhile before we have any answers. Meanwhile, there are 7 ferrets we're very worried about. They appear healthy now, but I'm terrified we'll see a sudden onset like we did with Roo.
He had been healthy, had an "all clear" check up at the vet just 3 weeks before, hadn't been around any new ferrets (he and my ferrets are together a lot) or any other animals, no new/different food or treats. His only health problem was allergy to distemper vaccine (not vaccinated since last year).
Thanks in advance for any thoughts/advice you have. We're all just broken hearted about this, and really scared. We have an excellent ferret vet who's been in consultation with the vet school here, but still a mystery...
====================================================================<<<
Whatever you Wanadoo, click below:
http://ads.smartgroups.com/adclick/CID=000000b7c79a99a500000000
====================================================================>>>
--
If you want to share pictures, use the calendar, or start a vote
visit http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
To leave the group, email: ferrethealth-unsubscribe@smartgroups.com
Report abuse http://www.smartgroups.com/text/abusereport.cfm?gid%3D1423922&mid%3D17008