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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2014 23:56:22 GMT -5
So I've been trying to find the reason why sid has lost so much weight and insulinoma came to mind. But I finally gave them the soupy today and they ate most of it but when I picked sid up I felt something weird in his belly.
It felt like a mass but I could move it around. I'm really worried. I'm doing okay financially but I'm hoping I can afford This surgery. I'm not familiar with how much that costs here in Las vegas.
Any other ideas on what it could be?:/
I'm having a cold right now and I can't even sleep because I'm so worried:'(
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Post by Sherry on Sept 17, 2014 9:04:46 GMT -5
Hold him upright, and gently dangle him. If he has a bulge to the one side, it is his spleen. Many ferrets develop and enlarged spleen for no good reason. If his appetite and behaviour are normal otherwise I'd not be overly concerned.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 11:28:31 GMT -5
Out of 4 ferrets I've had, 3 of them have had an enlarged spleen. Usually it is nothing to worry about, and the only time they need it removed is if it is so large it impairs daily activities. I agree with Sherry, if he is acting normal, I wouldn't worry about it. But since you say he has lost weight, I would think about a vet visit to be sure. An enlarged spleen is symptoms of many things, or a symptom of nothing. Weight loss is not a good sign, so if you can I would discuss it with your vet over his exam, just to be sure. Adrenal, Lymphoma, and Insulinoma are the 3 most common cancers, I've dealt with all them. My Insulinoma girl didn't have an enlarged spleen, but my Lymphoma boy and and Adrenal girl do. Doesn't mean yours has cancer or that anything is wrong with him, just telling you that lots of ferrets get them, and sometimes it can have something to do with another thing. My Caillou has an enlarged spleen, and he's healthy, it's very slightly enlarged, and my Vet said I was hyper-observant for noticing it  |
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Post by Heather on Sept 17, 2014 12:40:18 GMT -5
Yes...enlarged spleen isn't something to worry about unless it becomes oversized, then it needs to be removed but that being said it's often a "symptom" of something else, even an infection. As your guy has accompanied weight loss I'd be taking him to the vet for an exam.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 12:47:46 GMT -5
Do they live shorter lives if it isn't removed? It seems to be bothering him:/ I've only had him for a month and he's lost a lot of weight since then. I just called my vet and she said she would give me a call back with a price quote.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2014 13:07:15 GMT -5
No, their lives aren't shortened by an enlarged spleen, unless it is caused by something else, but depending on the age of your ferret they could very well live a normal/long life. My Juliet has adrenal disease and an enlarged spleen, and she is already 6 years old, so she will live a normal lifespan. There is no reason to put a ferret through an unnecessary, stressful surgery to remove a spleen that is not causing any problems. An enlarged spleen should not cause any pain or discomfort, unless something it is accompanied by something else.
I do agree a Vet visit is the best idea to determine the cause.
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Post by Sherry on Sept 18, 2014 9:00:32 GMT -5
If he is losing that much weight I would have him seen. How is he eating?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2014 20:16:50 GMT -5
I am so worried right now. I took sid to the vet today and had to leave him there overnight for testing. The vet said he is very anemic and pale. He's very skinny and does appear to have an enlarged spleen. She said that it could be a variety of things that have made him so skinny and unhealthy. One is that he may have swallowed something and that is now blocking an intestine. And option 2 would be juvenile lymphoma. I am so heartbroken. I don't know what I would do if he had lymphoma. She said that with medication he would live about a year or two at most. I wanted to stay with him all night and keep him company and snuggles before they do all that testing If the X ray doesn't show anything she's going to do a bone marrow test. I just want to cry. She also told me not to rawfeed my ferrets and that evo or was on was the way to go. I don't believe that. Ferrets don't have kibble in the wild. She made me a little mad with all that. I finally have my other 3 boys eating the soupy. Anyway wish sid luck guys. He's there overnight on fluids to help get him a little better. :/  |
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Post by Heather on Sept 29, 2014 20:25:22 GMT -5
I've lit a healing candle for your wee boy. I'm so sorry about his illness. Getting vets to support raw is difficult. Good luck, please keep us posted
ciao
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Post by Thérèse on Sept 30, 2014 9:46:01 GMT -5
Will keep you both in my thoughts and send positive vibes for all to be well
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2014 22:21:56 GMT -5
Sids back home from the vet. There was nothing out of the ordinary from the xray besides his spleen but its not bothering him. So the vet did blood work and said that he is at 20% and very anemic also that his red blood cell count is very low. So her answer to all this is that sid is most likely to have juvenile lymphoma so she went ahead and did a bone marrow test and I should have results back by friday but for now hes here with me and shes started him on prednisone. guhhhhhhhhh................  |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2014 22:22:59 GMT -5
I have no idea how to feel or what to expect i've never had a ferret with this condition before :[
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Post by Deleted on Sept 30, 2014 23:30:18 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Oct 1, 2014 0:20:29 GMT -5
They used the aspiration needle. Is the biopsy better?
Thank you guys so much for the help and support.
My coworkers were telling me that i shouldnt let him suffer and i should put him down. I dont believe that. I read that they do okay on prednisone. (i thinkthats how you spell it)
I believe she gave me 5mg pills and i cut them in quarters because he needs a fourth a day she said indefinitely unless the marrow test says otherwise.
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