From:
"meryl"
Date: 2011-02-02 22:35:45 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Gizzie
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi Michelle,
I am so sorry. I never get used to the suddenness of some illnesses, deaths - and always wish there were a good explanation of what happened. I've had some similar but not identical events with my past ferrets. Indie for one who actually hemorrhaged from his GI tract and died - if you would like to read about his case (he had liver problems as well) it's in the archives, message number FHL 11971.
I also had another ferret recently who died just a few weeks after arrival. She seemed to have an insulinoma and was on pred, but refused to eat, regurgitated food, was on meds, but deteriorated rapidly. My vet did a necropsy (no histology) and she was found to have a distended stomach and massive GI bleeding. The exact cause of death - other than blood loss and wt loss - could not be determined.
My veterinarian mentioned recently that she has seen other young ferrets who are really ill/anemic and suspects they have DIC - disseminated interstitial coagulopathy - since they often have internal hemorrhages on necropsy. I found this very good explanation of the process at
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000573.htm
Here's an excerpt:
[Quote trimmed to avoid copyright violation, so see the URL for full information.]
"Normally, when you are injured, certain proteins in the blood become activated and travel to the injury site to help stop bleeding. However, in persons with DIC, these proteins become abnormally active...
Small blood clots form within the blood vessels. Some of these clots can clog up the vessels and cut off blood supply to various organs... These organs will then stop functioning. Over time, the clotting proteins become "used up." When this happens, the person is then at risk for serious bleeding..."
Here's a link to DIC in animals
http://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/clinpath/modules/coags/dic.htm
It is so tough, they are such sweet creatures and it always affects me deeply when a ferret dies or has to be put to sleep.
Meryl
------------------------------------
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:
ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
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/