Help I think I have a blockage

[Deleted]

I'm sorry but all this sounds crazy and I'm having a hard time keeping up with the information being mentioned.
Has a proper diagnosis been made?
Who diagnosed the tumor ?
Who diagnosed the enlarged spleen ?
(Same Vet?)

Is it both,or just a missed diagnosis? Why is there a surgery booked for a Spleen removal? (Has the cause been determined?)
From what I've read they only consider surgery when there is an infection which is a suspected cause for the enlarged spleen.
Surgeries should be a major last resort because they are very harsh on ferret's small bodies.
Most ferrets with enlarged spleens live a normal life and splenectomy in general should be a last resort.

Has any tests been done to ensure this is a correct diagnosis?
Lymphoma, Hemangiosarcoma among other things can occur in the spleen.

Did the vet do a needle aspiration of the spleen?

[Heather]

It's a good course of action. Ferrets can and do get their spleens removed. It used to be a very common surgery when I first got into ferrets and usually very successful unless intense cancers were found. Now they've discovered that unless the spleen is grossly engorged or cancerous leaving it alone is often the best coarse of action. From the photo you posted I'm surprised that surgery is on the table but perhaps the picture isn't showing the clear depth of the engorgement or the vet can feel a lump on the spleen. The problem with an enlarged spleen is the possibility of perforation. It's a death sentence, they bleed out long before you will ever get them to the vet. Has your vet ever mentioned age? I know originally you mentioned a very young ferret. I've never seen an enlarged spleen (requiring surgery) in a ferret of this age
ciao

[Deleted]

I've also been doing some research.

One thing to keep in mind is that The spleen in ferrets is usually large to huge in size.
Based on the frequency of seeing large spleens in
ferrets, one may actually speculate that a large spleen is
normal for ferrets.

According to what I've read, removal is a last option. The Vet should use a fine needle aspirate first to get a sample and send that off for diagnosis.
If the Ferret is showing signs of a systemic infection that responds to antibiotics and then a splenectomy (removal of the spleen) may not be necessary.
Surgery will be expensive and I'm a bit surprised they would do that first without other courses of action including an ultrasound.
Remember please, I am learning and not offering any medical advice. I am not a Vet and am not trying to play one on the Forum.

Splenomegaly is a medical condition in which a ferret's spleen is enlarged. The spleen is an organ that produces the immune system's B and T cells, and where old blood cells, bacteria, and other infectious agents are filtered and destroyed.

Additionally, the spleen stores viable blood cells, so that in the case of an emergency (e.g., an injury causing the ferret to bleed extensively) the organ can distribute blood to the rest of the body.

Splenomegaly is reported to be extremely common in ferrets. Often, ferrets live most of their lives normally with an enlarged spleen.

I'm not a Vet and any information or research reported is not intended to replace a Vet visit or Vet's advice. This is just a bit unusual based on Swiper's age and so it offers an opportunity to learn some more.

Splenomegaly is occasionally deemed normal in certain ferrets, especially if the ferret is three years old or older. Other common causes for the medical condition include:
Infection
Bacterial
Viral (e.g., Aleutian Disease)
Insulinoma (a benign tumor of the pancreas)
Cardiomyopathy
Splenitis/Hyperspenism
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (immune cells flock to an inflamed intestine)
Cancer (e.g., lymphosarcoma, Adrenal neoplasia, systemic mast cell neoplasia; occurs in only about 5 percent of splenomegaly cases)

I'm hoping that once the Head Vet sees her then he will discuss this more and offer you more information. I checked out their website again and they have been in practice awhile and seem to have had some good reviews. Both Vets have a good education. It's a small practice but I like that they offer an emergency call line.

I also reviewed the anatomy of a ferret again and your picture shows the swollen section up and to the left of the spleen which is located below the stomach.
Is this correct...I'm asking this of any of our more medically experienced ferrents.
Could the swollen part of Swiper be displayed in this manner?

Ask your Mother to take a look at this PDF.
www.cabi.org/isc/FullTextPDF/2009/20093019039.pdf

:wave3:

[Blue]

RedSky had a ferret (Bolin ) with a massive spleen. It was about the size of the vet's hand! They never figured out why it got so big, but once it was out he got better pretty quickly. Here's the thread:

holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/17674/vet-update-end