From:
"Karen McCabe"
Date: 2008-06-30 20:07:13 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Brain Tumors In Ferrets
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hello Dr. Williams,
Thank you for taking the time to respond, I do appreciate it. I think
you may have nailed it with lymphoma, this was actually my first
thought. I had another girl several years ago that presented with very
similar symptoms, though the circling in her case was much more
profound. For her, lymphoma was confirmed. In Darla's case we're just
going to have to guess, as I would not feel right about doing any
further testing on her. I fear sedation would not be wise.
For now, the circling has lessened (though not ceased), she's eating
very well (mostly by syringe but she does manage to lap some soup from
a bowl on her own as well), and she's staying well hydrated. She still
has weakness in the front legs, the right in particular, but she is
getting around on her own. The biggest issue right now is that she's
no longer using the litter box (which is extremely out of character
for Darla, in her 7 years she's never once missed), she actually seems
very confused and somewhat frantic when she needs to go. Aside from
that she seems comfortable and content, and I suppose that's the most
I can ask for.
I did notice one thing last evening that I found odd though. Her eyes
now appear to be reacting to light. Her pupils are no longer staying
dilated and she appears to be seeing light (turns her head towards
it). Any thoughts on that?
Karen McCabe
http://www.cinnamonsprite.net
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Bruce Williams, DVM"
<accupath@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Karen:
>
> The group has covered most of the bases here, with insulinoma and
> middle ear/inner ear infection being covered.
>
> A couple of comments on ottitis interna, however.
>
> a) Bloodwork doesn't often lend a lot of help with infections of the
> inner ear and brain. The skull is a pretty closed box, infections can
> be roaring along in there and rarely show signs in the peripheral blood.
>
> b) When your vet does an ear examination, he really can't see much of
> the ear. Sometimes the eardrum can be visualized (it is not as easy as
> in humans where the ear canal is straight), but you really can't see
> what is going on on the other side of the eardrum, where the bad
> infections play.
>
> Regarding brain tumors - yes, they happen, and in an older ferret it is
> more of a consideration than in a younger one. You have described
> acceptable symptoms for one - circling, etc. and although rare, they
> certainly belong on the list. The blindness may or may not be relatd -
> many older ferrets have retinal disease and are blind and owners rarely
> realize it, as they compensate so well. But put something else on top
> of it, and it becomes readily apparent.
>
> In ferrets, the majority of brain tumros are lymphoma ( lymphoma goes
> anywhere it wants to.) Then you have meningiomas - tumors of the
> coverings of the brain which are benign but compress the brain as they
> grow bigger, then astrocytomas (similar to the malignancy affecting
> Senator Kennedy), and finally the really rare one-offs that don't
> really bear description. Of these meningiomas are the only one that
> are really surgically treatable, but with an old adrenal and insulinoma
> ferret, well that is a call that I certainly wouldn't make.
>
> Hope this helps.
>
> Bruce Williams, DVM
>
> --- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Karen McCabe"
> <cinnamon_sprite@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Pam,
> >
> > Yes, my vet did consider ear infection. He looked, though not deeply
> > with sedation (he didn't feel the symptoms warranted it). I have had
> > one with an infection same as your Harriet, so I am familiar with what
> > you're talking about. What I'm seeing in Darla is different. There is
> > no nystagmus, no head tilt, no falling over. She does circle but can
> > break free and walk (or rather run....she seems to be in "full steam
> > ahead" mode continuously) straight before going back to circling.
> >
> > Karen McCabe
> > http://www.cinnamonsprite.net
> >
>
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