From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2009-02-18 23:21:18 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: What would cause a gurgling sound? Update #2 Bad news
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Oh dear - what a heartache for you. I am so sorry the news wasn't
better : (
My Sampson has only ever been on proglycem for his insulinoma because
of the numerous infections he's had. My vet never even considered
pred for him because of his history. Sampson gets his BG checked
regularily and in his case the proglycem is managing his insulinoma
very well.
His companion Ash had lymphosarcoma and died a few weeks ago. Ash
received metoclopramide as part of palliative care because he had a
massively enlarged stomach. The meoclopramide improved motility and
is something given for nausea and vomiting as well. All his
medications were given sub-q because of compromised absorption with
oral meds. You may wish to check with your vet about getting
injectible medications.
Ash received the chemo drug l'asparaginase and it did give him a
period of remission that actually shrunk his lymph nodes. He had
been on prednisolone prior to the chemo but only for a few weeks.
The thinking is that prednisone can impact the efficacy of chemo
drugs HOWEVER each ferret is an individual.
If he's been on the pred for years there is a higher probability that
the chemo drugs wouldn't work as well but if he's only been getting
it a few weeks or even months might be worth trying.
Its not really surprizing that with the amount of vomiting he's been
doing that he aspirated some. Or it could be ascites in the lungs
from the tumor.
I guess it comes down to how aggressive you want to be with
treatment. He can be treated for the yeast infection, antibiotics
for possible pnuemonia, something like metoclopramide to ease the
vomiting and improve motility, pain medication as needed, a stronger
steroid like Dexamethasone for inflammation and maybe a chemo drug
like l'asparaginase to hopefully shrink the tumor (if lymphoma) and
buy you some time.
With the exception of the yeast medication - Ash was on all these
medications - all given sub-q. Various medications had to sometimes
be adjusted daily according to how he was that day. He was strictly
on a liquid diet for the entire time, every 4 hours during the day.
His last feeding was at 10:00 at night and at 4:30 the next morning.
I adjusted my work schedule so that he would get his meds and
feedings regularly.
It did buy us 2 months of quality time until the lymphoma came back
with a vengence, which is what happens. It was a lot of care but I
did it gladly and two veterinarians worked together and monitored him
closely, one close to home and one at a distance who was available to
me 24/7.
It would be wonderful if when the time comes your vet is willing to
do a compassionate home visit. My vet follows the same protocol Jeff
described his vet does. Sedation, IV line put in place and then
administering the final dose. Very gentle, they fall asleep in your
arms and pass away peacefully.
Prayers and best wishes.
Hugs,
Tressie
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