From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2006-04-09 22:04:45 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Lymphoma clusters (was: Bleeding after surgery update)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Further to what Sukie had to say about lymphoma
clusters or clumps:
In the fall of 2003 I had nine ferrets at home. Seven
of the nine were diagnosed with lymphoma betwee fall,
2003 and November, 2004. Six of the seven have since
died, all of lymphoma. Ages at time of death ranged
from five and a half to ten.
Presentation of the disease varied. The first ferret
diagnosed, Ker Avon, has the disease attack his spinal
cord. He lived a little over a week with creeping
paralysis. When the paralysis made it difficult for
him to breathe we rushed him to the vet and ended up
saying goodbye.
Life expectancy from time of diagnosis has ranged from
less than a day to closing in on 17 months and still
here. It all depends on what organs the lymphoma
attacks and how quickly it progresses.
We have never opted for chemotherapy. In the cases
where the disease did not kill quickly there were
either other medical conditions involved or we simply
were dealing with older ferrets. The chances of
success with chemotherapy were deemed to be poor and
the chances of side effects making the ferret in
question miserable just too great.
High doses of prednisolone/pediapred have not, in
themselves, worked well, generally because of unwanted
side effects: ulcers and/or severe diarrhea. What we
have done is a moderate dosage of prednisolone in
combination with a different injectable cortisol
(steroid) such as depo medrol or vetalog. That,
combined with something for the stomach, seems to work
best for longer term care.
According to the several vets who have treated my
ferrets the average life expectancy with lymphoma is
90 days. We've had three that have exceeded that, two
by very significant amounts.
Lymphoma stinks and there simply are no good answers.
Unless you opt for chemotherapy all you can do is hope
the steroids slow progress of the disease a little.
They do make the ferrets feel better and that,
combined with pain medication in the later stages of
the disease, provide paleative care and quality of
life.
The usual disclaimer applies... I am not a vet, just a
ferret owner with way too much experience with
lymphoma.
All the best,
Caity and the fantastic four
(Nyssa, Ella, Zephyr, and Chin Soon)
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