From:
"Glenn"
Date: 2009-02-11 03:48:01 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Pathology lab wrong about lymphoma?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hey everyone, I was referred to this group by a friend on another forum and hope I can get
some good advice here. I hope that maybe I can get some solid advice on what to do, even
if something as far as euthanasia is recommended.
Ferret's name: Mac
Age: 1 year old
Sex: Male
Diet: Innova Evo Feline, slightly softened with water
It all started when my ferret started developing these coughing fits. I had done some
research and since he was shedding at the same time, I assumed it was just some hair
getting into his mouth. These coughing episodes progressed up to the point where he was
having 3 or 4 in a night, and I noticed what I thought was weight gain and lethargy
because of the weight gain (which turned out to be a swollen spleen and lymph nodes). So
when i took him to the vet for the first time, the doctor listened to his hear and
immediately noticed a heart murmur and said that he was concerned. With the swollen
lymph nodes, spleen, lethargy, and heart murmer, he immediately assumed that it was
lymphoma, but was not 100% sure because he is so young.
So they proceeded with an ultrasound and then a biopsy on one of his lymph nodes. A few
days later I got a call from the veterinarian, and he told me that the pathology lab was
unable to find any sort of signs of cancer in the sample they received and that they were
proceeding on tests of any sort of fungal infection or something similar. He then called me
again yesterday and asked if Mac's swelling had gone down at all, to which I told him it
hasn't, and he informed me that the lab was unable to find any signs of a fungal or
bacterial infection.
I took him in today to get his stitches removed, and the doctor examined Mac by feeling
around his neck, and behind his hind legs (where he said he noticed some enlargement of
the nodes there). He then proceeded to inform me that the pathology lab may not have
been able to find any sort of cancerous tissue because they normally deal with dog and cat
tissue samples, and because ferret tissue differs from that of cats or dogs, that it may
have been more difficult to test and get an accurate result. With this, the doctor still thinks
that Lymphoma is the problem.
So the options I have be given are either to put Mac through surgery again to have his
swollen spleen removed and sent to the pathology lab with the possibility of getting the
same result. Or the doctor said we can start him on a steroid treatment and assume that
he has lymphoma, while taking the risk of negative side effects if he does not have it.
I am at a loss as to what to do. I really would hate to put my little guy through surgery
again, and after seeing the picture of Beasley on the home page of the website, I have
hope that it could be something as simple as that. My roommate is a molecular biology
major who worked in a pathology lab, and recommended that I call the vet tomorrow to
find out what lab they use, and to then call the lab to ask them if they did in fact receive
lymphatic tissue or if they just received fat tissue.
Also after doing a little reading, it seems that Ferret-FIP may be a possibility as well. What
are your thoughts on this?
Thanks for taking the time to read my long winded post, I whole-heartedly appreciate any
form of input.
-Glenn
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