Message Number: FHL5479 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Tressie"
Date: 2008-07-10 01:41:39 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Update on Cannoli - adrenal disease
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

I wanted to post an update on my 2 year-old gib, Cannoli who was
displaying aggressive behaviour toward my sprites, was losing hair on
his tail and had an episode of a blockage.

He did receive 100 mcg of the one-month Lupron Depot and by the 5th
day he was voiding normally. However, within 10 days he was showing
aggressive behaviour again and received another 100 mcg. dose of
Lupron Depot. This abated almost immediately but came back within 7
days. This time he received a 200 mcg. dose, which lasted 7 days.
So one more of 100 mcg. In five weeks he received 4 Lupron Depot
injections. Apparently he is a fast metabolizer, responds quickly
but also the effects wane quickly. I wanted to post that information
so others who find Lupron starts to wane quicker than expected to
reassure them it does happen in some ferrets like the case of my
Cannoli.

Fortunately, given encouragement from various people on the FHL (vets
included) I opted for surgery. Notably the ultrasound had not shown
any abnormality in the adrenals. Cannoli had his surgery today. The
right adrenal was affected. Because we had caught this early, the
adrenal had not infiltrated the vena cava and my vet was able
to 'shave it' from the vena cava without cutting into the vena cava
wall. Although the adrenal was abnormal in appearance, it was still
small enough that my vet was able to remove all of it. Unfortunately,
it was attached to the liver, which my vet also biopsied. The left
appeared normal. The enlarged mesenteric lymph node that had
appeared on the ultrasound was also biopsied.

An unexpected finding was a pea-sized blackened 'lump'in his
abdomen. My vet wondered whether it might be an atrophied lymph
node. He has not encountered an isolated black lump like this before.
This has also been sent to the pathologist for assessment.

He is home, appears to be in considerable discomfort in spite of the
Metacam he was given. I had also requested extra hydration with Sub-
Q. I have given him duck soup, which he had a little of. My hope is
that by tomorrow he'll be considerably more chipper.

Will post pathology results when I receive them.

Thank you all for your information and encouragement. I feel because
this has been caught early I am optimistic his prognosis is good (in
spite of the floating black lump).

Tressie




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