Message Number: FHL2825 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "merylfaulkner"
Date: 2007-10-25 05:44:32 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Update (sadly) on Nicole, on pred,not improving (message 4018)
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

Nicole, older ferret, surgery in 2005, followed by lupron depot
every 3 months. In July on pediapred for low BS, but BS not responding.
Not doing well in mid-September. I queried dose limits of pediapred,
and use of diazoxide as possible treatment of insulinoma after
pediapred did not control her low blood sugar. Dr Bruce Williams
kindly responded. She started getting shaky/unsteady.
Early September 20 my house mate found her at 2am collapsed, rigid,
cold on the floor of his bedroom. He warmed her up and placed her in a
warm quilt, she seemed sleepy but OK (the room had an open window - he
rationalized she just got chilled). At 8am (after giving him a piece
of my mind at not calling me)I found her out of the quilt, cold
comatose etc. Warmed her, gave her sugar solution, and she started
lapping chicken baby food - took 2x 7ccs. Took her to the vet where
they thought she seemed a little better than initially expected. At
3pm after radiography,fluids, warmth, oral feedings,she seemed more
alert. At 4pm she crashed,and by 5.00pm when I arrived (hoping)to pick
her up, she was unresponsive, glassy eyed, and breathing
spasmodically. The vet felt there was a mass in her abdomen(palpation)
and on radiograph intestines appeared bloated(probably all that
chicken) I said my goodbyes, sighed and stroked her as the vet gave
her the intra cardiac injection. I took her to the lab which does
necropsies and paid extra for her body to be given back. Buried her
under a native plant in the front yard.

Necropsy findings (abstracted somewhat)as follows:

"Gross exam:
A 1.4Kg female ferret in good nutritional condition and good
postmortem condition. Vetwrap on left foreleg. Live fleas present.
Moderately sized clot and fluid within thoracic cavity (euthanasia IC
stick). Lungs are moderately congested, the abdominal organs are pale,
stomach severely bloated with tan liquid ingesta (probably my chicken
and fluid). Ileum contains a solitary 4.5 x 1.8 x 0.9cm multi-nodular,
irregular pink, firm mass that replaces approximately 180 degrees
circumference of the ileal wall. The liver is pale orange tan. There
are multifocal, enlarged, mesenteric lymph nodes. The thymus is soft,
off-white, markedly enlarged and measured 5x2x1.5cm

Histology:
Jejunum, multiple lymph nodes, mesenteric adipose tissue:lymphoma
Lungs :severe, diffuse, congestion
Liver :hepatocellular intracytoplasmic vaculation (lipid), periportal
to random multifocal, moderate with scattered lymphonistiocytic
inflammatory infiltrates and neoplastic infiltrates
Gallbladder: cholecystitis, lymphocytic and proliferative, multifocal
to coalescing, moderate.
Pancreas : islet cell, multifocal nodular hyperplasia, moderate
No significant findings in thyroid gland, spleen,adrenal gland,
stomach, cecum, thymus (involution normal)kidney, heart, brain.

Comments:
The ferret had alimentary and multicentric lymph node lymphosarcoma.
The "classic" form causing enlargement of peripheral nodes is seen in
older animals and has a prolonged course. In this disease an
infiltrate of lymphocytes expands the peripheral and mesenteric
nodes,eventually effacing nodal architecture. Late in the course of
the disease, neoplastic lymphocytes infiltrate visceral organs
(including liver, kidneys, lungs, spleen)resulting in organ failure
and death. This disease is usually insidious, resulting in little
clinical debility until extensive infiltration of visceral organs has
occurred. Lymphosarcoma should be given a poor prognosis in ferrets.
Thymic lymphoma was not present; this is usually a disease of young
ferrets(reference: Bruce Williams, AFIP)"

Nice to know that even in a ferret free state the vet. pathologist
refs Dr Bruce Williams. Also good to know that the lupron perhaps helped
maintain the remaining adrenal in good shape for a couple years - and
kept her nice fur coat as well. I noticed during her last 4-5 days her
tail was in a permanent "bottle brush" condition. Wondered if that was
a sign she felt cold, or just did not feel well.

Meryl







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