From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2006-10-07 19:03:36 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] RE: big belly
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
If it behaves like a water balloon (Turn ferret on back and gently jiggle it and hit the sides gently to see how it moves.) or the ferret has other suggestive symptoms the vet may find ascites. The next steps if it is ascites are to do a CBC with Chemistry Panel (not just a CBC) and x-ray the chest. If the chest shows something, or if the blood tests don't show something but there is ascites then a chest ultrasound would be best done to arrange for the right medicines. ( The reason in the second situation is to look for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy which often doesn't show up on x-rays.) The vet may also need to do an EKG/ECG if there may be some types of arrhythmia or Node Block.
(In the Files (which currently are on 2 or 3 pages so be sure to advance as needed) there are two compilations on treating cardiomyopathy and on treating Node Block. Later info is available in the Archives which can be linked to by clicking on the bold print on the FHL Homepage or looking in my signature. (The archives also have a link to the FHL.)
There are some other less common problems, too.
Three common causes of ascites in ferrets:
heart disease
kidney disease
lymphoma
-- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my private posts)
Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love them:
Ferret Health List
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
AFIP Ferret Pathology
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
Miamiferrets
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
International Ferret Congress Critical References
http://www.ferretcongress.org
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