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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 13:21:59 GMT -5
I'm writing this post in case anyone should have any suggestions. I've had my ferret, Tasia, for 4 years. I got her from a pet store where she had been surrendered by someone who found her. So age is kinda unknown.
She has a swollen lymph node behind her front left arm. She is litterally a skeleton with skin. I'm surprised she can still walk. She's not eating enough to qualify as "eating". Last night she only ate 4 pieces of her food. I feed her a mix of Ultra 8-1 and ZuPreem. Starting on the 18th I've been force feeding her, with a syringe, with her kibble blended with water to make a soupy paste - oh and Ferretone dribbled in it. She does not eat that willingly. I have to scruff her to get her to eat. I'm not able to get her to eat nearly as much as she should - even throughout the day. I tried a simple duck soup of just water, chicken, and egg yoke but she wouldn't touch that. Desperate to get weight on her, I've thought about offering some raw ground hamburger. But I doubt she'd eat it and I'm not sure if I can offer that to a sick ferret anyways.
She's been vomiting but mainly after I feed her. She is having bowel movements - which now are kinda tarry. She grinds her teeth but only after I give her her medicine or after I try to feed her.
On the 18th the vet said he doesn't think it's lymphoma due to the fact that only one lymph node is swollen. He said that we'll act conservative and put her on meds invade it's just a virus. She's currently taking clavamox and prednisone. He said the only other option is to do chemotherapy, but that could kill her instantly. Then he sent me home. Today at 4 o'clock she'll be going to a second vet to see if they say or do anything different.
So any thoughts or suggestions? I hope this all makes sense, I wrote it in a hurry because I have to get back to work. Thank you for any help!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 13:38:09 GMT -5
Lymphoma of the GI track comes to mind. But it really could be anything.
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Post by Heather on Apr 26, 2016 14:33:53 GMT -5
This sounds like ulcers to me. This ferret needs to be seen by a vet ASAP...like today. All the symptoms point to ulcers or some type of gastric upset. It's a simple fix. She should be getting Carnivore care and a a series of antibiotics. Another possibility, especially with the vomiting is a blockage. Again, waiting is not an option. This ferret is very, very ill. Please vet
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 15:00:37 GMT -5
This sounds like ulcers to me. This ferret needs to be seen by a vet ASAP...like today. All the symptoms point to ulcers or some type of gastric upset. It's a simple fix. She should be getting Carnivore care and a a series of antibiotics. Another possibility, especially with the vomiting is a blockage. Again, waiting is not an option. This ferret is very, very ill. Please vet ciao That was another thing I thought of. I just got done reading about lymphoma and the GI track that's why I mentioned it. But it does have almost the exact same symptoms as eachother. |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 15:51:12 GMT -5
...She IS going to the vet, as in she'll be in the room in 20 minutes. In fact, this is the 2nd vet she'll be seeing. ...I posted that. :/
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 15:59:13 GMT -5
I am sure Heather just missed that part. She just wants to make sure your fuzzy is seen. There are a lot of people who refuse to take the animal to the vet and because they are so small they go down hill extremely fast and die. She is just looking out for you both! I am praying for you and your baby good luck with the vets.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 16:10:38 GMT -5
First vet said it more than likely is not lymphoma because only one lymph node is swollen. He said if it was lymphoma she would have several lymph nodes swollen.
Still waiting to be placed in a room at the vet.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 16:20:17 GMT -5
Fingers crossed ! My thoughts are with you two
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Apr 26, 2016 20:25:50 GMT -5
Same here. I hope ur little one recovers.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 21:50:47 GMT -5
I have bad news.  The vet today felt 2 more swollen lymph nodes in Tasia's neck, the size of peas. (The original swollen lymph node is the size of a jelly bean.) She said it probably is lymphoma. She did an X-ray (no idea why the 1st vet didn't) and it showed that Tasia has a huge tumor inside her rib cage, above her heart. Vet said the tumor is pushing against her heart but is also shoving her esophagus up. She believes it's the fact that the esophagus is being pushed up that Tasia feels like she can't eat anything and also is encouraging the vomiting. Her first suggestion was to put Tasia to sleep. I'm assuming she suggested that because the tumor is so large and Tasia weighs so very little. Btw, she only weighs 430 grams. I told her how the first vet said we could do chemotherapy but the chemotherapy would more than likely kill Tasia because ferrets don't respond well to it. She said that wasn't true. Then I mentioned how I looked online and I saw different drug, that started with a "d", that was different than what the first vet mentioned. She agreed saying that that's the drug that she's familiar with being used for ferrets. Unfortunately, she doesn't think she can get her hands on the drugs fast enough to help Tasia. However, tomorrow she's going to call another clinic and see if they would help a ferret. She said the other clinic does a lot of chemotherapy - but on cats and dogs, however there is an exotic vet there so she's going to see if they would/could help a ferret. She still not sure if chemotherapy is the best route to go. Until we decide, she said to go ahead and stop using the clavamox and to give prednisone in the morning and at night rather than just at night. She also wants me to water down her food even more to help ensure it passes through the esophagus. She also said that Tasia needs more calories. So I'm not sure what to do there. Here's her X-ray: She said the large white mass is the tumor. The long "cord" (with lines through it) is the esophagus. The esophagus is supposed to be more so straight and not pinched up against the back bone. The fact that the esophagus is shoved up like that suggests that matter is hard like a tumor rather than just fluid build up.   And here's Tasia. This was while waiting to go to our room.  |
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Post by Heather on Apr 26, 2016 22:08:39 GMT -5
Poor wee mite. It's just not fair. I wish I could say that chemo had a great sucess rate....but I can't. I hope she responds well to the pred and you're able to have more time with the wee one.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 22:39:37 GMT -5
I would have to agree with Heather. The chemotherapy just doesn't work well even when you catch it early. Yes there are success stories but the ferrets only go into remission sometimes for just weeks maybe months. Not very successful.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2016 23:19:36 GMT -5
Awe, really? I thought she said that she's seen many ferrets respond well - of course , WHEN caught EARLY - but nevertheless, I thought she said there wasl a lot of positive outcomes. So are you saying that euthanizing her is probably the best option? That is so hard to do when she's still walking/trying to run around. On a side note, she did try to drink water. When we got home and I put her in her cage she went to her water bowl. Honestly, not sure how much/well she drank. She's always been a snorkler, where she submerged her face and drinks. But now she sticks her head in but then draws back and shakes her head. So not sure how much she got though she attempted several times. |
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Post by Heather on Apr 27, 2016 0:25:03 GMT -5
No, if you want to try the chemo by all means. The success rate is much improved than what it was. Like chemo for humans you will see both sides of the coin. Success depends on the type of cancer and the will of the ferret, some respond, others do not. There is a newer protocol, the little ones don't get as sick (at one time the cure was by far worse than the disease)
I always give my little ones a fighting chance and no I've never used the chemo. I've always used pred.
With the pressure caused by the tumour, you might have to slowly syringe feed while having her sit on your lap. If she's not able to drink she must be horribly thirsty, by syringe feeding you might be able to relieve her thirst. Perhaps sitting up right (I have one boy who loves to sit at the table on my lap with his paws on the table, maybe getting her to eat that way, it might take some of the pressure off her esophagus. You may also have to do sub q fluids so that she can get enough fluids.
I wish you luck.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2016 1:09:09 GMT -5
Of course do what you think you need to do! I just have been reading a lot of articles about lymphoma and chemotherapy that's where I am getting my info from. I wasn't trying to discourage just trying to show from all prospective.
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