From:
"Jeff"
Date: 2010-02-02 03:24:52 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Lymphoma
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
Thank you to all who replied. Unfortunately, we had to put Pip to sleep early this morning. Among the suspected causes of his rapid demise are intestinal or stomach lymphoma. He was examined and evaluated by four ferret-knowledgeable vets over the last week and was hospitalized for the last four days. We will not know for sure what the cause was, but lymphoma and advanced IBD are most likely. A severe viral infection is also possible. We estimate that Pip was 3 or 4 years old.
Pip came to us approx. 6 weeks ago emaciated and near death after being abandoned with his friend Pop. He was too weak to even stand and eat. His symptoms pointed clearly to ulcers, which we treated immediately with amoxicillin, carafate, and Pepcid. He responded incredibly well to this and to our special 'soup', and over the next four weeks went from 1 lb. 12 oz. to 3 lbs. 1 oz, putting on weight, muscle, and becoming a very happy and playful ferret.
About 2 weeks ago he began having terrible diarrhea, and about 1 week ago stopped eating. He had always had a voracious appetite, so this was a major concern. We tried another round of amoxicillin, flagyll, baytril, pepcid, carafate, forti-flora (not all at the same time). Nothing helped, and he rapidly started losing weight. Finally last Thursday we had to hospitalize him to get him on IV nutrition and fluids, as even syringe feeding had become nearly impossible. His ulcers seemed to still be under control, as the diarrhea was not at all dark or tarry.
After four days on IV with any and all medicines that could be tried, he continued to go downhill, and early Sunday morning he prolapsed, the result of nearly 2 weeks of diarrhea. The attending vet at the 24 hour hospital, an excellent ferret vet, fixed his prolapse, but his rear was raw, he was in obvious distress, and we had no choice but to release him from his pain, which I did at 4 am Monday morning, holding him in my arms as he passed.
It is baffling to me how he could have gone from being so healthy and vibrant to being dead in two weeks, with nothing able to help his digestive system at all. And we tried everything. I chose not to do an autopsy, as we had already spent so much money trying to help him. I just want him to rest in peace now. But if anyone has any ideas as to what might have caused all of this, your ideas or experience with similar situations would be very much appreciated.
Jeff
In Memory of Trinny, Neo, Pip, and Mr. Parker
Caring for Morphy, Baby Girl, Luna, Dozer, Sabrina, Minnie Mouse, Pop, and Possum the Million Dollar Ferret
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