Message Number: FHL11035 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Sukie Crandall
Date: 2010-02-28 17:35:48 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Lung Hemmorhages after Adrenal Surgery
To: Heather Williams <fourn6ider@yahoo.com>, fhl <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>

I am sorry for your loss, Heather.

My inclination is to say to also remember that there is also the
possibility that a malignancy growing elsewhere might have gone to the
adrenals.

That necrotic adrenal is unusual, though, and speaks to the chances of
a possible earlier clot that may have cut of circulation to the adrenal.

Alternatively, there is the concern that bits of that adrenal might
have gotten into her blood system and been the particulate matter
rather than blood clots.

Blood clots in lungs are pretty rare in ferrets during life except if
ferrets are exposed to triggers like a lot of secondhand smoke over
time (the results in multiple pulmonary studies since ferret lungs
largely react to things like smoke the way human lungs do). On the
other hand -- IF my recollection is not messed up by having a cold
right now -- blood/clot spots are seen often in the lungs after death
if the necropsy is not done immediately. Dr. Bruce Williams mentioned
that in a previous post. Let me look. Hopefully, our browser signal
will hold up.

Here you go. In this one which says some possible causes that are
additional to what I recalled so covers multiple possibilities about
the looks of the lungs:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG392
this ferret expert veterinary pathologist includes:
> The first thing we need to do is get the complete autopsy report.
> Often there are other clues or lesions which may help us. How many
> tissues were taken, and did any other tissues show changes? Blood in
> the lungs is not necessarily due to hemorrhage. Blood may leak into
> the lungs for a number of reasons beside actual hemorrhage. You may
> see it in the air spaces as a esult of shock (when blood pools in the
> capillaires, it often leaks into the lung) or simply when the animal
> lays on one side too long in the post-operative or even post-mortem
> period. Blood pools on the down side, and if you sample that section,
> you may get a reading of blood in the lungs. There are a number of
> tricks that pathologists do to prevent such things from occurring,
> but they are often overlooked in a busy practice.

It's too bad that a lung specimen and liver specimen didn't also go out.

What are the conditions in the sick cage? There is no climbing in
there, right, and just paper for the waste? How did the ferret behave
at home after surgery? Drinking meat baby food, Carnivore Care, or a/
d mixed with warmed water? Plenty of ways to get warm but stay able
to move easily like big quilted tubes of big quilted sacks?

What does this vet use for anesthesia, BTW? Iso or Sevo is safest
usually. (Yes, there are exceptions; I know of at least one vet who
has developed a protocol for ferrets that uses combos in very special
amounts and timing, and of one of those who is teaching the
particulars of doing that in a veterinary program now.)

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
HAPPY: http://www.6footsix.com/my_weblog/2010/01/high-fives-for-happiness.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)



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