From:
"zodanga1"
Date: 2008-08-10 14:26:05 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Help with sudden lump w/ peculiar smell
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to follow-up with the below problem. I'm happy to report
all is now well and the lump is gone. It took perhaps a month and half
but in the end it just went away all of the sudden (like over 3-4 days
with the bulk of it in just one) on it's own. My former vet (I moved)
is very ferret knowledgeable and I spoke with her on the phone for a
consult. Her advice was get a biopsy and have results read to perhaps
narrow down the site cells to cancer, infection or allergic reaction
(we had already ruled out abscess). None of those seemed to be the
case. End result her diagnosis seemed correct - (I forget the medical
term) but basically it was a result of the lupron (or any shot really)
being given incorrectly - resulting in the med's going "into" the skin
instead of "under" it. So med's all got trapped there and took body
much longer to absorb. That was pretty much what I was thinking so
glad we waited instead of having it surgically removed (it would have
taken a half a golf ball out of him!)
That's about it. Thanks to everyone who offered advice, tips, and just
plain "well-wishes". What a great forum resource and great people. :-)
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "zodanga1" <zodanga1@...> wrote:
>
> 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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