From:
"kazpat1"
Date: 2007-04-05 20:03:32 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: sudden weight gain
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I think this approach will not give you good data. Since you won't
really know how many what number of surgeries has a bad outcome. You
will only hear antedoctal stories. So lets' say 1000 surgeries were
done and 2 ferrets died- that is not a bad percent considering. BUT
if all you know is 2 ferrets died after surgery- kind of throws you
off.
In my experience, if surgery is needed, best to do it while the
ferret IS feeling ok, because if you wait until the ferret is weak,
losing weight, etc the outcome will be worse.
I have had exploratory surgeries in quite a few ferrets, ( not
counting those for adrenal since we knew what those were for), I had
two for biopsies due to IBD, 3 for surgeries due to palpable mass in
abdomen( or weight loss, chronic diarrhea) and those were all
carcinomas ( 2 of the intestines, and one lymphoma).
Anyway, in those cases the outcome was not what I wanted to hear, but
it confirmed the diagnosis and unfortunately, the two with carcinoma
of their intestines didn't make it due to not able to resect the
bowel and due to the amount of cancer in the intestines.
So, in my experience the surgery itself the ferret recovers from
pretty quickly, but if the surgery requires resection of large amount
of intestines, or like with adrenal where it may involve a large
blood vessel like the vena cava- in those cases the outcome is more
risky. Plus consider the experience of the vet, if pre-op tests are
done ( blood tests, glucose level, etc) , if EKG monitoring needed,
and any complications during the surgery.
Always weigh the risks with the benefits and discuss wtih your vet.
Patty
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, Debbie Hunton <reynapaubi@...>
wrote:
>
> I don't know... It's a dilemna I hope never to be in, but it is
something that I often wonder on - how many exploratories
on "otherwise healthy" ferrets (i.e. eating, drinking, pooping,
peeing, playing) end with the ferret crossing the rainbow bridge?
Anyone willing to share their personal experiences on this? Any vets
or vet techs willing to comment?
>
> Debbie
>
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