From:
Heather Williams
Date: 2008-10-16 03:02:00 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Chewie's Surgery
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Chewie went back into the vet's office today.=A0 When I found her this morn=
ing, she was very cold.=A0 She had not eaten or drank anything overnight.=
=A0 I tried to force her water and some soup but she just let it pool in he=
r mouth and eventually run out.=A0 I did not have enough hands to hold her,=
the syringe, open her mouth and then make her swallow.=A0
=A0
The vet's office confirmed her temperature had dropped to 91 degrees overni=
ght.=A0 They placed her on a heating pad and started her on Prednisone and =
fluids with glucose.=A0 The vet believes her problems stem from the remaini=
ng adrenal gland not being used to functioning.=A0 He hoped the steriods wo=
uld kick start it.=A0
=A0
When I went to see her tonight, she hadn't really improved much.=A0 She was=
still very alert but would not eat.=A0 Her temperature was better and stay=
ed at 101.3 while I held her.=A0 I was with her for an hour.=A0 I was also =
told her blood glucose levels were fine as well.=A0 She is being sustained =
for now on fluids and glucose since she won't take in anything else.=A0
=A0
One thing I did notice while holding her is that her breath smells terrible=
!=A0 The doctor thought it was just because there was nothing in her stomac=
h so what I was smelling was bile and acid.=A0 I asked about giving her som=
ething like Pepto or carafate to settle an upset stomach but I don't think =
the vet was keen on the idea.=A0 Not sure why.=A0 I also wondered about an =
internal infection but would I smell that on her breath?
=A0
Has anyone else encountered these complications after any kind of surgery?=
=A0 What are my options at this point assuming she makes it through the nig=
ht?=A0
[The following is included as background.]
--- On Thu, 10/16/08, Heather Williams <fourn6ider@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Heather Williams <fourn6ider@yahoo.com>
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I wanted to send an update on Chewie after her diagnosis of adrenal disease=
...=A0
=A0
Surgery was performed on Monday to remove a tumor from the right adrenal gl=
and.=A0 The tumor had started to compromise her liver and the vena cava.=A0=
The vet removed as much of the tumor and adrenal gland as possible but obv=
iously=A0had to leave the vein alone.=A0 The surgery went as well as can be=
expected.=A0 She is home but very sore.=A0 I was given enough pain medicat=
ion (Metacam) to last until Friday.=A0 I am hoping that will be enough.=A0 =
I was not given an antibiotic.=A0 She is alert and wants to be held.=A0 She=
has not eaten food yet no matter how appealing I try to make it.=A0 She wi=
ll drink on her own and take FerretVite a little at a time.=A0 She has had =
a few very dark in color bowel movements.=A0
=A0
Chewie will go in next Friday (10/24) for a recheck and to have her staples=
removed.=A0 Thanks to all who=A0sent info and best wishes!
=A0
Heather=A0
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
=20=20=20=20=20
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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