From:
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Date: 2010-08-02 04:37:48 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] need help - cellulitis and adinitis (sp?)
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I've been a member on here for awhile but rarely post because I hardly turn the computer on anymore, but right now I am having a ferret health issue that I could really use some help with. I have a male ferret, about 6 years old. A couple of months ago I took him to the vets because he was having problems urinating and there was a huge lump under the skin where his penis is. He was peeing, but there were several times when he would try to go but nothing would come out. The vet performed surgery the day after our visit and removed a lump that was attached to his penis. He was unable to remove all of it because of the location, but he said he got most of it. A biopsy was done on the tumor and a week later he left a message on my phone letting me know it wasn't cancerous and diagnosed it as "chronic cellulitis and adinitis (sp?)." Sammy (my ferret) was fine for a good while after the surgery - he peed fine and showed no signs of struggling.
Well, now he is having the problem again. He is peeing, but struggling at times and sometimes nothing will come out. He'll leave one big puddle, then try several more times after that but nothing will come out. It's like he feels like he has to pee but can't, even though he just peed a couple of minutes beforehand. For the last two hours though, he's been trying to go but nothing will come out. I don't know what to do. Obviously I'll be calling the vet tomorrow, but I don't know what to do as far as how to take care of the problem. This illness is something that I haven't been able to find any info on. Is there a drug that might help or is surgery the only option? When the vet opened him up the first time, he called me and suggested putting Sammy down right then and there because of the size and location of the lump and because he thought for sure it would be cancerous, but I decided Sammy at least needed to be given a chance. I'm afraid that the vet will make that same sugge
stion when I take him back again. I realize that he can't go through surgery everytime this happens, but I want to know if anyone has any info on this illness and what, if any, other options there may be. I have a hard time letting go of my fur kids, and I'm sure many people on here share that same feeling. I don't want to put him down if there's something else to try. He doesn't seem like he's at that point either. He still wants to hop around and play.
I'm also asking for help on here because I feel like this vet isn't as ferret knowledgable as I'd like him to be. He knows a lot and has been a great help, but he doesn't seem to know what to do when it comes to some of the less common health issues, so I'd like to be prepared with some ideas when I get there. I would really appreciate some other info, opinions, and ideas - I don't want to feel like I have to have him euthanized and then find out afterwards that something else could have been tried.
Some other info on Sammy - he started showing signs of adrenal about 1.5 years ago. He had bloodwork done twice and both tests came back negative for Adrenal, but an ultrasound showed a mass. He was started on melatonin implants which helped with the hair loss.
Any and all info would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Jessica
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