From:
"zodanga1"
Date: 2008-06-27 03:24:47 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Help with sudden lump w/ peculiar smell
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hello all,
One of my guys, Legolas, developed a lump on the back of his neck a
little to the left and above his shoulder blades. It is about 1" long
(across the body) by 1/2" wide (lenghtwise on body), sorta firm,
appeared practically overnight and has a peculiar smell (sorta like
yeast I guess??). I "think" it also tastes funny - no I didn't taste
it! - one of the other ferrets started licking it and recoiled his
head with the "bad taste in your mouth" look/act. The lump has now
been there 1 week and only slightly shrunk, slightly gotten softer.
It doesn't seem to hurt him, even by palpation, nor is his appitite,
weight, tempreture or energy (or lack thereof) notatably changed.
He is about 5 yrs old and has had adrenal perhaps for a couple years.
He had his right gland (the hard one) removed last July and the vet
said the left one was starting to look funny but we basically left it
in, in since he didn't want to take both out at the same time and in
hopes he was wrong and/or lupron maintenance injections kept it from
developing. I think it is going bad now as well but really think his
adrenal status may not matter much in this case so I'm won't get
carred away elaborating.
He is on finesteride/flutimide (alternate days for enlarged prostate,
urination problems - prob. due to adrenal), has a melatonin implant
(but that is probably worn out now - as it's about 5 months old) and
recently got a 4 month 2 microgram (?) time release lupron injection.
Previously he was on the 100 and 300 microgram (?) one month dosages,
so the 4 month deal is new. This injection occured about 2 weeks
before appreaance of the lump and in "close" to the same spot - but
probably not that close. I'm thinking this lump may be a delayed
reaction to the lupron???
Lastly, I did take him to the vet and she did a needle stick to see
if it was a fluid filled abcess type lump, but it wasn't. The needle
went it, with more then normal resisitance, and only the normal
amount of blood came out upon removing it. She did nothing else
(other than feeling him up and all seemed normal) and suggested 2 day
dose of steroids to see if it goes down - otherwise surgury to remove
it. This is our first visit to this vet and she has little ferret
experience so we don't feel comfortable with her. She was nice enough
and I think wants to learn however I need experiecne now. None of the
other vets seem to have much experience either (1 ferret per 4-5
months is typical upon query). I have just moved to a small boon-dock
area near Ashland, WI and don't have any options (unless one of you
have a vet recomendation around me??). We are really missing our
excellent ferret vet, Dr. [in] PA [Part removed to come inline w FHL rules
since the case that vet might have handled was discussed here -- past
adrenal choices -- instead of just things that vet may never have tackled.]
So, any ideas? :-(
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