From:
"Bruce Williams, DVM"
Date: 2007-02-02 11:54:50 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Causes of enlarged spleen
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "manajane21" <amandadegraw@...>
wrote:
>
> What can cause the spleen to be enlarged in an otherwise healthy,
young
> (1 yr) old male ferret with a healthy appetite, normal water
> consumption, and what appears to be normal stool and urine (stool
> sample negative, never had urine tested)? Can there be an infection
> present but doesn't show outward symptoms? Is it worth persuing
causes
> by running tests even if he appears healthy?
>
Sukie has summarized the possibilities nicely, but I would add a
couple of things. Helicobacter is not a very common cause in animals
of this age, but coronavirus is. Any chronic GI inflammation is the
most common cause of this findng.
An important, but not overly commoncause of splenic enlargement in
ferrets of 2 years or less is lymphoma. Usually it is accompanied y
neoplastic infiltration of other organs, names the liver and the
thymus, so an X-ray in this case is definitely indicated, and for
this age animal, a splenic aspirate is probably a prudent thing to do.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/