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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2015 9:08:31 GMT -5
I have a 4 year old albino ferret named Mali. He always seemed to have this small sore on the back of his neck. The sore is in a spot where I would give him his flea meds but ive ran out of meds since July and he still has it. It will heal almost all the way but then come back and sometimes its really inflamed and puckered up. No sign of puss but it looks like it bleeds every so often I assume from scratching. Im taking him to the vets next month but what can I do till then for it?
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Post by Celene on Jan 11, 2015 10:06:57 GMT -5
Do you by any chance have a photo? I know ferrets are squirmy, but maybe try when he's asleep.
Mast Cell Tumors (MCTs) usually consist of a scab (from scratching) about the size of a belt loophole , and the surrounding skin may be red about a 1/4" around that. The word "tumor" sounds scary, but MCTs are really common in ferrets around Mali's age and are usually benign. Having said that, (in my experience) they don't usually pop up in the same place again and recur for that many months, so that is certainly some cause for concern. When did you first notice it?
I would say if he hasn't had flea meds since July it is probably not the cause, but just in case, which flea product were you using on Mali?
I'm sure soon enough a more senior ferrent will reply with a more thorough and helpful answer but I wanted to get you an answer sooner than that since I know how scary it can be when furbabies have mystery illnesses/injuries!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 6:52:23 GMT -5
My boyfriend tried to help me take some photos but of course that was a challenge still. I just noticed that the scab has moved more up his neck since July August. Now I can see a small almost healed red dot the size of a pin by his shoulder blade/neck area (hardly noticeable) and then theres a bigger scab slightly more up the neck from the old scab, its the size of my small pinky finger tip. The only time I ever see sores is when I give Mali Flea Medication. I just assumed it was from fleas and scratching but it could be an allergic reaction? I was using revolution flea meds from my vets office. They dose it out in small syringes. Ive been noticing his scabs for about a year now. I understand now the length of time its been these sores wont heal completely on their own and now im worried.
I dont understand how to attach photos... Its saying parse failure please check input values? Ive tried all sized to be selected. Ill check out tech support
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 6:56:33 GMT -5
To upload a photo, you need a hosting service such as photo bucket.com or tinypic.com (this one doesn't need an account). Once you upload the photo, you need to paste the IMG code. It will look like: (IMG)http://yourphotosURL(/IMG) replace the parentheses with [ and ] for it to work properly.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 7:15:18 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 7:16:03 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 7:17:27 GMT -5
Thanks I've forgotten how to go about this website
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Post by bitbyter on Jan 13, 2015 10:22:27 GMT -5
That looks like a mast cell tumour to me. They are somewhat treatable and not life threatening. I can't remember the topical treatments but your vet should be able to provide you with some options.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2015 20:34:32 GMT -5
Okay thank-you. I just didnt know if I could use polysporn or something like that to help sooth and help heal but if its a tumor then maybe it be best to just leave it till the vets.
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Post by bitbyter on Jan 13, 2015 21:21:29 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on Jan 13, 2015 23:43:29 GMT -5
It does appear to be a MCT. I would get confirmation from your vet. Some MCT's can be easily removed. If they're not removed they continue to keep coming up and often growing. These are often benign growths but they do grow. You can put sudocreme on them if they open up. Often they will rise, burst and then go away and won't return again until your ferret's immunity is stressed again. You can also try feeding Reishi mushroom to see if your little one will respond to this as well
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 0:31:06 GMT -5
Thanks Heather, yup that sounds about right on what these "scabs" are doing. Makes sense when he's stressed they come out. Getting fleas must really suck thats why I thought it was the fleas and medication causing the irritation. I just moved 2-3 weeks ago so the new environment must've stressed him out. Are MCTs chronic? I will definitely look into the sudocreme. What will Reishi mushrooms do for him? I doubt ill be able to get him to eat anything besides his kibble or if I made it with a kibble boiled soup he would eat it unless the mushrooms have a strong smell/taste.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 0:49:56 GMT -5
Could there be an underlying health problem along with MCTs? It wouldn't make sense that he's had the MCTs for almost a year with breaks of flea medication/fleas and before moving to a new place unless Mali is just stressed all the time. He's been to my new place as a kit too but could possibly forget the surroundings.
I just always have had this feeling Mali will get really sick on me since he is albino or since his depression after losing his first litter mate back a few years ago. Do albino animals get health issues usually? I read that/heard that from somewhere. He's never had extra weight on him except for when he was a kit. He lost any extra through the depression. I had to syringe feed/spoon feed him for a month so he lost a lot of weight in the beginning and then just stayed the weight he is now. Its winter so he should feel like he has some chubs but he's just mostly fluff. His fur is really nice and shiny though.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 1:35:46 GMT -5
Okay so I did some research and found surgery is what will happen but that wont promise him not getting another MCT. He's always been itchy but I thought its just a ferret thing since Cooper itches when playing or upset too. Im thinking he's allergic to something or the fleas and meds irritated him so much to stress him out and get MCTs. Ive seen a scab on his leg over a year ago when I had a huge flea outbreak from a friends and her poor kitty was covered in lumps due to allergies?! Lets just say we aren't friends anymore! so I know its not pertaining to just his neck and it will reoccur his whole life most likely. I wont be able to surgically remove every single little pin looking scab though (i assume putting a ferret through surgery will be expensive) so hopefully this cream and mushroom and a vet visit/not needing surgery/just 1 surgery will do. I wont leave Mali hanging though ill try to make him as comfortable as possible in this life.
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Post by katt on Jan 14, 2015 3:13:34 GMT -5
Looks and sounds like an MCT to me. Even if you get it removed, it may well come back. The only time you really need to remove them is if they are particularly large or particularly bothersome. Kenai's just came right back after it was removed.
MCTs are always benign in ferrets (but they are almost always malignant in dogs interestingly). They release histamine, which makes them super itchy so they scratch at them and open them up, which is what causes the scabs. Sudocreme is great as Heather mentioned. 1% hydrocortisone cream 1-2 times a day for a few days (don't use it long-term, only when it's particularly itchy) OR benadryl cream can help to reduce the itching when it is flaring up. It's best to not put hydrocortisone onto an open wound though as it can increase infection risk, so if he opens it up and is bleeding avoid the hydrocort.
Many people have had great luck using powdered Reishi mushroom supplements to eliminate MCTs, but I didn't have any luck with that myself. Doesn't hurt to try though and it's a great supplement to have on hand.
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