Message Number: FHL4314 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "warriorbabe666"
Date: 2008-03-15 21:14:49 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Ferret w/ Adrenal Disease, post hairball surgery now w/ enlarged spleen?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

Hello,

I'm at a loss re what course of action I should pursue with my male
ferret, 5 years old.

His health hx was fine until about 3-3.5 yrs old. At that time I
noticed his poops became smelly, slimy, and loose. I took him to the
vet and she prescribed Metranidazol (antibiotic), Benebac (probiotic)
and a stoll hardener x2 weeks. This helped for several mos and when
the sypmtoms returned vet suggested daily doses of Petco's benebac to
assist GI tract, never formally diagnosed my ferret with a condition
however stated GI issues may indicate lymphoma, etc. Since then his
stool quality has ebbed and flowed, overall it was tolerable and he
had no other issues, was playful, good appetite, etc.

This past summer when he was around 4 yrs old, I noticed more
pronounced stool symptoms and adrenal-type hair loss. Took him to
XXX Hospital and he was diagnosed w/
adrenal disease and started on Lupron. The medicine helped w/ the
adrenal symptoms, stool became tolerable again, etc.

All was ok until January 12 of this year when he vomited 2 very large
amounts of clear liquid (later was informed liquid was stomach
secretions). Per vet he was diagnosed w/ 2 large hairballs which were
surgically removed Jan 14. Upon returning home he slowly healed and
was able to recover his appetite. His hind legs never fully recovered
and he had some difficulty running so I put rugs down all over the
aptmt and that helped.

By the time he was due for his February Lupron shot he was very sleepy
and lethargic for about 1 week prior to the shot, appetite decreased,
etc. The vet examined him, stated she felt possibly a mass in his
stomach, only sure way to tell was x-ray. After I brought him home
post Lupron however he recovered his appetite and showed an excellent
activity level until about 2 weeks ago. For the last 2 weeks he has
become increasingly lethargic and lost the weight he had gained in the
first 2 weeks after the Feb Lupron shot.

Yesterday he received his March Lupron and upon examining him the vet
stated he no longer appears to have a stomach mass but rather an
enlarged spleen, which may or may not be problematic...

What concerns me is his activity level now and for the past 2 weeks is
zero; he eats and sleeps, barely plays or runs at all. His poops are
average in consistancy but significantly smaller in size and more
frequent over the last 2 weeks as well. He is on a diet of Gerber
chicken baby food and kibble.

Any suggestions???

I'm reticent to put him through additional tests/x-rays because I
don't think he can handle another operation and I hate for him to
suffer additional testing if it's not going to lead to anything.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions,
Natasha


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