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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 0:04:24 GMT -5
I changed Marty's bandage. The scab was soft and mushy. I cleaned the wound, expecting there to be a small open wound. And now I'm in a full blown panic attack. What the h*ll is this? It looks like what I'd imagine an intestinal tumor to look like! Is this what's bothering him on his neck too? I don't know what to do, I can't get to a vet until tomorrow, and I don't even know how much surgery will be. I should have cleaned it sooner. This is all my fault. I didn't think there was anything wrong other than a bigger than expected scab and the obvious itchiness! I feel like I'm going to be sick, and I can't breathe. Marty doesn't seem to know anything's wrong, he just doesn't know why I won't let him walk around. I put a new bandage on with a nonstick pad wrapped in gauze, with some Polysporin to keep infection away and keep whatever this is moist. What do I do? What if I can't get to a vet tomorrow? What if the vet isn't even in the office?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 0:50:26 GMT -5
I called my grandparents and they said they'd help out if it wouldn't be too much for them. Marty's acting normal, my mom came and calmed me down. I feel so guilty though. I should have gone farther to get him to a good vet. I inspected the wound a bit more. There doesn't seem to be any attachment below the skin to anything, it seeps from multiple places, and I'll have to change the bandage 3-4 times a day. It also doesn't seem to hurt him when its touched.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 4:37:15 GMT -5
Ferrets are not the easiest animals to care for. You can only do what you can do, so you do not deserve a beating from yourself.
That is a very good close up. 'am anxious to know myself.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 4:40:53 GMT -5
I'll tag Heather and she will see this in the morning. Until then, there is nothing else to do. Don't overworry yourself now and in the morning, there will be more advice. That open wound doesn't look infected, it's ugly though. This looks like a mast cell tumor, based on looking up possible causes and then checking images. Medical issues are not my strong suit. Let's see what the others say. Mast cell tumors are rather common and usually benign. If it turns out to be a mast cell tumor, then you will want to vet. The vet removes it and sends it off for a biopsy to ensure that it is benign.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 4:41:52 GMT -5
Yeah... I'm finally calm enough to sleep. I just hope I can communicate well with the vet.
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Post by unclejoe on Aug 7, 2015 6:56:07 GMT -5
Mast cell tumors are easliy removed and benign most of the time. If I remember right, the whole vet visit cost us about $120.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 9:08:41 GMT -5
What about with multiple tumors? I'm thinking the itchy spot on his neck is also one, just very tiny.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 9:13:37 GMT -5
Should I take Layla with me? She'd help Marty, but she'd be a handful the whole time.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 9:17:42 GMT -5
Make it easy on yourself--but do what you want
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 9:26:24 GMT -5
I think I will take Layla. Thinking about it, even though she'll be a pain in the butt, she'll help me too. Especially if I somehow get immediate bad news (I don't know what news I could get so quickly, but you know). This will also be the first time other than spays or neuters that I've had a pet have surgery since my first cat attacked a dog.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 10:04:37 GMT -5
I'm hoping that when I call this vet clinic www.farmhousevet.com/ they can help Marty today. The vet seems like he has good experience with exotics and at the very least says he is an animal advocate. The clinic is also only 30 minutes away, but I've never seen it on any search before! I could have gotten Marty in so much sooner if I'd only found this before.
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Post by FireAngel on Aug 7, 2015 10:13:26 GMT -5
I hope you get the answers you need today. Mast cell tumors in ferrets are usually benign and more of a bother then anything. If this is the case you can use some reishi mushroom powder in his diet to help and topical hydrocortisone cream has been shown to help not only relive the itchiness for him but has also been shown to reduce the size too.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 7, 2015 10:22:26 GMT -5
That actually doesn't look too bad for a wound that has been kept moist They(the "scab") look MUCH different than dry scabs, in fact some do look similar to this. I am not saying that is what it is, but I have seen healing wounds on humans look much the same as the tissue sloughs off.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 10:29:12 GMT -5
Its time to change the bandage. I feel shaky just thinking about it.
It looks the same as yesterday, and the bandage absorbed what looks like a lot of blood, but it came away clean and only one layer had blood on it. The bandage smelled strong but not bad, and the wound didn't have a noticeable smell. I still feel no tissue beneath the skin, and it still doesn't hurt him.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 7, 2015 10:34:47 GMT -5
@sherry , there is no scab on the wound. I had to wash it off because it got goopy when it got moist and most of it pulled away with the bandage before I saw the raised area. Its also had a long time to heal, and it surely hasn't gotten smaller, and now the raised area is visible. I haven't really been sure what bandage protocol to use for it, regardless of all the first aid I know. Its skin deep like a scrape, bleeding like a cut, raised like a sore.
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