From:
Donna Baker
Date: 2008-03-31 15:13:29 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Information on Warwick with fungus
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I added some more pictures of Warwick, trying to show his bulgy left eye, which had gotten better, also a picture of what the pus pockets on his head look like, and two CT scans showing the invasion of the fungus throughout his nasal area.
At this time, the fungus has invaded his brain and causing him to lose balance and have difficulty walking. This is not treatable.
Many x-rays were made of Warwick with inconclusive results and pus was analyized for bacteria and signs of cancer. No bacteria was ever found and the abscesses were "sterile" abscesses. (The x-rays did show evidence of either a tumor or something else.) At one point black granules were found in the pus and research showed it was fungus from the ASPERGILLOSIS family. Not the typical fungus that has been found in ferrets before, however, aspergillosis is very common and can be found everywhere, so there's no tellling where he picked it up (he doesn't go outside either). Our immune systems keep us safe from this fungus normally. I never saw any signs of illness or anything in Warwick to let me know his immune system was compromised enough to not fight off fungus.
The lab was never successful in growing the aspergillosis to find out exactly which fungus it was. This was disappointing.
Once fungus was diagnosed, Warwick was given an oral daily dose of itraconazole.
On March 7, the university was able to do CT scans on Warwick (free of charge because they had never seen this type of nasal fungus in a ferret). I have added two pics of the CT scan which show invasion of the fungus on the left side of his head. Unfortunately, due to bone loss in Warwick's skull, the treatment the vet wanted to do was no longer an option.
Here is the synopsis of the CT scan: The final report is pending, but we saw extensive destruction of bone (calvarium, the bone surrounding the brain) and invasion of nasal cavity extending into the brain. The radiologist commented that it was an aggressive process that could be neoplastic or severe fungal infection. Based on other diagnostics and his response to therapy, we feel that a fungal infection is the most likely cause. Based on the results of the CT, we now know that it is not safe to attempt local therapy with clotrimazole because of the danger to the brain tissue.
Up to that point Warwick's pus pockets had not returned and he seemed to be doing well. Then a week ago he got another pus pocket on his head and I took him to my local vet who drained it. The pus pocket has since returned, Warwick is losing his ability to walk and appears to be going downhill. However, his appetite is very good and he will eat all the gravy I give him. He is sorta able to get around, but has started grinding his teeth, indicating to me that his stomach is hurting him or he has pain somewhere else. It's time for me to let him go. I just wish he'd stop eating so the decision would be easier for me. Instead he seems to have that extra will to live...sniff.
I will take him back to the university and a necropsy will be performed on him per their desire. Apparently they have never seen this type of fungus in a ferret. I realize, by reading comments on this board, and speaking with other ferret owners, that several ferrets have had fungus issues, so I can't believe that Warwick's predicament is all that rare....just rare to me in my household.
Warwick has been going to my vet for a while before fungus was suspected because he was sneezing all the time. My vet had recommended Benedryl thinking his problem was due to allergies. Then he his left eye bulged out and he got a bump on his head. X-rays were made showing no tumor behind the eye...glaucoma tests were made, proving negative, no bacteria was found in the pus. My local vet was baffled and recommended he go to the university vet school. At first they didn't find anything either until the black granules in the pus were found.
So, it's been a long process and I wish a diagnosis had been made earlier so treatment might have been effective and I wouldn't have to be saying good-bye to him now.
If any of this info can be used for someone else's ferret, then good can come of this.
donna b.
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