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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 17:39:30 GMT -5
Our vet found a reactive lymph node in our ferret's belly back in April. (She turns one year on Aug 30) After a biopsy and x ray she told us it was benign, not cancer, and appeared to be small. Our ferret also has weak ab definition which was made obvious by the x rays. She gave us an antibiotic and scheduled a check up for us after a couple weeks. She told us on the phone she might want to surgically cut it out if it doesn't go down because she never saw anything like it before. When we had the check up after the antibiotic, we had to see a different exotic pet vet in the same office because ours was out sick. He had information to all of the testing and felt the lump, and told us if the lump doesn't get bigger and doesn't hinder her in any way, there should be no need to cut it out and to just let her be and not put her through the stress of surgery if she does not have cancer or a disease. She hasn't been back to the vet since her last appointment in May because she's healthy, active, eats, drinks, poops, plays, sleeps, etc all normally and we weren't told to schedule another appointment. Should I be worried about the lump? I check it every couple weeks as the second vet directed me to and it has remained the same size since April. It's hard like a ball and is deep in her belly. She has no symptom of any disease or cancer(and the tests came back negative for everything) and is just a lovable ball of fur. I would like to know what the lump is though. Has anyone experienced this before? Could it be some type of food allergy? She eats Marshall mix and an off brand mix (I forget the name as I threw the bag out) but I am hoping to add more protein/raw meat/supplements soon to better her diet. Also while I'm on the topic of health, sometimes my ferret seems to stop what she's doing and intently watch me. I wouldn't call it dazing off because she's totally aware of what's going on and reacts to things, like if I move, start petting her, or squeak her mouse toy. I was reading up on Insulinoma and got concerned, is her stopping to stare at us a symptom or just her plotting her typical evil? Thanks in advance!  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 17:55:28 GMT -5
Welcome to the HFF  Medical issues are not my strong suit. I'm calling in the big guns here for advice for you. Sherry Heather katt bitbyterThey have all had medical issues and many more years of experience. I hope your little one (what is her name?) is fine. She is young, and that is in her favor.  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 18:03:06 GMT -5
Welcome to the HFF Medical issues are not my strong suit. I'm calling in the big guns here for advice for you. Sherry Heather katt bitbyterThey have all had medical issues and many more years of experience. I hope your little one (what is her name?) is fine. She is young, and that is in her favor. Thank you for calling in the big guys! Her name is Juno, she's named after an astrology term because I love astrology and Juno in astrology represents love and soul mates ☺️ She's definitely got youth on her side. Besides the elusive lump she is a happy bundle of joy! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 18:13:22 GMT -5
Juno is a wonderful name.
I'm glad to hear that she is a happy little girl and full of energy.
(dance)
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 18:16:30 GMT -5
She is! Her favorite thing is playing hide and seek with me and my boyfriend, wrestling, and stealing our shoes  ? |
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Post by unclejoe on Aug 3, 2015 19:22:10 GMT -5
We have a couple shoe thieves. They've been good lately, but sometime will still go after an insole, especially if they get in my closet. Welcome aboard.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 3, 2015 19:34:00 GMT -5
Lymph nodes on young ones especially I am REALLY leery about. Juvenile lymphoma is a very scary thing that only hits young ferrets and can go very rapidly. TBH I would seriously consider having it removed and tested.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 20:07:54 GMT -5
Lymph nodes on young ones especially I am REALLY leery about. Juvenile lymphoma is a very scary thing that only hits young ferrets and can go very rapidly. TBH I would seriously consider having it removed and tested. Sherry, we did have it tested. The vet biopsied it and the results came back negative, it wasn't lymphoma or any cancer. She was kind of baffled by it to be honest |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2015 20:59:40 GMT -5
Since it was April and the biopsy came back clear,
I'm more concerned I'm dealing with a flu/cold or some type of infection that won't go away or perhaps some sort of food allergy/allergy to bedding. Is there anything else that can cause an enlarged lymph node? We were told it was benign and not cancerous. She wanted to maybe aspirate it again but we didn't get a chance to do that because she was out sick.
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Post by Heather on Aug 3, 2015 22:50:17 GMT -5
Has the node changed in size or shape at all? I'm leery of swollen lymphnodes but you've already checked on it. I know that you can aspirate a node and have it come back as negative but it's actually positive. In those cases, the node grows quickly instead of just swelling and remaining at the same size. If no other nodes are active and the ferret appears to be healthy...then I'd be tempted to leave well enough alone.
You mention insulinoma possibilities, that's an easy, easy test. It's just a matter of doing a BG, a few seconds and one of the cheapest tests you can do on your ferret. From what you describe though the ferret is just trying to get an idea as to what you're going to do next. The zoning out that they describe for insulinoma leaves them with a rather vague look. Ferrets often flat ferret while they figure what type of mischief they're getting into next. This is different. They are rather out of it.
It's always difficult having to deal with ferret health issues, the symptoms are often vague and overlap diseases. Good luck.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2015 7:53:27 GMT -5
Thank you Heather for your helpful response! The node hasn't changed at all. I check it by palpating her tummy every week/two weeks just so it would be easier to feel any differences, but so far so good! I was just confused because our first vet did a biopsy, and she put Juno on antibiotics when it came back clear/reactive and said she might want to aspirate it again. I got mixed up in my post - she didn't say she wanted to do surgery, she said she might want to aspirate. Even though she already biopsied it. But when we took Juno back that vet was out so we saw a different one. He suggested what you did - leaving it alone unless it got bigger and started changing.
You are absolutely right, ferrets are hard when it comes to health issues. I knew this after tons of research before we got Juno, but I didn't expect to have to deal with health problems our first year having her. The little stinker is a trouble maker - I discovered she has a thing for rubber and that's been a panic attack this past month!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2015 8:02:03 GMT -5
Just for fun, here's a pic of my lil' Juno. She's amazingly cute. I never thought about getting a ferret, but she happened to be the only one at the pet store when my boyfriend and I went to get food for the parakeets one night and she tried to leap at us through the cage. It was love at first sight!  She's got an awesome personality, too. She loves to be held(as long as we're walking around showing her things, otherwise she gets antsy.) and she LOVES people. When she hears people outside of our apartment she will book it to the door because she gets SO excited that someone is about to come over and play with her. She's very alert and observant as well. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2015 8:07:51 GMT -5
She sounds like a sweetie Who could turn that down? Hope all goes well for your baby |
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Post by Sherry on Aug 4, 2015 10:48:09 GMT -5
She is adorable And somehow I missed it being tested already. I agree then- beyond keeping an eye on it, and maybe aspirating once in a while I'd leave it as well. As for her BG levels, they really ARE a simple test. I do ours here at home with a meter |
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Post by katt on Aug 4, 2015 12:23:55 GMT -5
I would definitely keep an eye on it. As it stands right now I wouldn't be particularly concerned, but if it doesn't eventually go away (after several months or so) I might consider getting it removed or at least have it biopsied at intervals to monitor it over time and ensure it isn't becoming cancer. She is adorable btw. |
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