From:
"ktnil"
Date: 2009-02-24 06:56:29 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Bone Cancer, Right Zygomatic Arch - What Can Be Done?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
My Max, who is about 7 or 8 yrs old (he was a rescue), began to
develop what appeared to be an abscess around one of his upper teeth
on the right side, back in November '08. My vet didn't think it looked
like a typical tooth abscess, so he did some xrays of the skull. The
pictures showed what appeared to be cancer in the bone in his right
zygomatic arch, just under his right eye. Max also has insulinoma,
which is being fairly well controlled w/ pred. My vet put Max on a
pulse dose of Clavamox (currently 0.3cc 2X/day, 4 days on, 3 days off
per wk), to fight any possible secondary infection, due to the cancer.
Recently (in the past few wks), I've been applying dental grade
topical lidocaine (which I got from my dentist) on the affected area
around that tooth, to help w/ any discomfort he might be having. The
tooth that's affected is being pushed inwards diagonally, due to the
bone cancer & it's growth.
This has been going on for 4 months now. Max is naturally very weak,
but he is eating his soup, drinking, & using the litterbox normally.
He tries to be enthusiastic about coming out of his cage for playtime,
& he's very interested in exploring the house, but he has to stop
every 30 sec or so to rest. While he does sleep a lot when he's out,
he's always sure to wake up to greet the other ferrets when they come
sniffing around to see him, & most of the time, he'll get up & follow
them around, see what they're up to, etc.
My vet & I are both convinced that Max isn't ready to "go" yet. He
still shows great interest in his surroundings, & he always tries to
do many of the things he did before all this hit. He almost always
runs to the cage door to see if it's time to get out, whenever we go
by the cage.
I know my Max cannot be cured of this, & that he's probably not going
to be w/ us for a lot longer. However, I'm curious as to whether
there's anything else we could be doing for him, or even whether
there's any "experimental" procedures that could at least make him
more comfortable for as long as he's able.
I keep "dreaming" that there might be some way to remove the affected
bone, & put something else in it's place, so that this at least will
not continue to spread, & prolong his life a bit longer. My vet says
the tooth cannot be removed, as it could cause severe damage to the
diseased bone, & this makes sense to me.
I guess I'm wondering if any of the VETS or others with experience
or knowledge on this group know of anything else that might be done
for him. I know this might be easier if it were the lower jaw that was
affected, but it's not. Even though this is making him very tired, &
probably rather uncomfortable (since the one tooth is involved, as
well as the simple fact that he does have swelling visible on his face),
Max is still a very happy boy who seems to *want* to do more, &
doesn't seem ready to leave us.
Can any of the vets here give me some idea whether there's anything
else that can be done for him?
Thank you for your time & attention.
Lin, Max, Puck, Ivan, & Mason
~ Missing my angel Ariel - 20 April 2000 - 20 January 2007. Wait for
me, my Baby Girl. I miss you so much. ~
~ Missing my Oberon - 4 July 2001 - 5 May 2008 - I love you, my Big
Silly Boy. Wait for me. ~
~ Missing my Madison - ? - 9 September 2008 - Our time was too short,
but my love is forever. ~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
email me at: kay tee en eye el at double-u owe aich dot ar ar dot see
owe em
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
------------------------------------
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