From:
"innerharmony"
Date: 2009-07-02 02:51:41 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Bilirubin Levels Very Elevated
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
We had to rush Possum to the vet today. In less than 24 hours he went from being seemingly 'normal' in every way to being in extreme distress. His poops were nearly perfect right up until he started to refuse to eat or drink. His urine was also normal until we got him to the vet, at which point his urine was orange in color. The vet did bloodwork right away, and although I don't have all of the results, he told me over the phone that the major concern is a 'sky high' bilirubin level of 18. Possum is now on an IV that includes antibiotics and B-complex vitamins, and we're going to see if he improves at all by the morning. This is all new to me, and if anyone has had experience with this type of problem, please give me some ideas as to what Possum might be suffering from. He passed a barium given by the vet, so an intestinal blockage is probably not the cause. The vet says it's related to his liver and possibly gall bladder, but we can't narrow it down specifically unless
we do an ultrasound, which will be very costly and will require trying to get a specialist with his equipment into the office. I know that lymphoma of the liver is a possibility, and a grave one, but are there any others that we can cling to for hope? Exploratory surgery is a possibility, but Possum is in a weakened condition right now, and I don't want to put him thru surgery if there's a high likelihood that the findings will be advanced lymphoma that will require him to be put to sleep anyway. He really had shown no outward signs of any problems up until Tuesday after noon, and by Tuesday night he was throwing up and refusing to eat or drink. By this morning his sides were heaving like he was trying to defecate, but all that would come out was a little bit of clear mucuous, and he would then crawl back into bed wimpering in pain. When I saw this happen I called the vet immediately and was in the car with Possum 10 minutes later.
Jeff
In Memory of Neo and Mr. Parker
Caring for Trinny, Morphy, Baby Girl, Luna, Dozer, and Possum
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/