jerkk
Junior Member
Posts: 118 
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Post by jerkk on Oct 6, 2020 19:42:23 GMT -5
I just lost one of my ferrets today, and I am very sick (temperature of 101.6). I just got home from euthanizing Sable, so I let my other ferret out to get some play time and attention. I noticed he was walking funny.
So I picked him up and theres a bony knot where his shoulder is.
It feels dislocated. I have no idea how it could have happened, and I'm extremely emotionally and physically exhausted. My mother is taking him to the vet tomorrow for an xray. I'm really hoping that it's fixable and not something worse. I really don't want to lose him too.
I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of something like this? Hoping that he doesn't have to get surgery for anything but I can't stop thinking about it as I just lost my other ferret very suddenly.
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Post by Corvidophile on Oct 6, 2020 20:02:22 GMT -5
Boy, it’s really out of the frying pan and into the fire with you, I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of Sable. I don’t know from dislocated shoulders, though. I hope things go better for you tomorrow with this ferret, and that you get over your illness quickly.
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jerkk
Junior Member
Posts: 118
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Post by jerkk on Oct 6, 2020 20:29:35 GMT -5
Boy, it’s really out of the frying pan and into the fire with you, I’m so sorry to hear of the passing of Sable. I don’t know from dislocated shoulders, though. I hope things go better for you tomorrow with this ferret, and that you get over your illness quickly. Yes i know  having a very very bad week. He's going to the vet tomorrow morning asap. My mom is taking him as I'm too sick to go anymore, I'm already exhausted from today. I haven't been able to find any info so thought I would ask here. Hopefully nothing more serious, and hopefully no surgery. Really crossing my fingers. |
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jerkk
Junior Member
Posts: 118
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Post by jerkk on Oct 7, 2020 13:15:47 GMT -5
So, vet got back to us and it's not a dislocated shoulder. It is some type of cancer. Worst case scenario is that it is an agressive type. Best case scenario is that its slow growing. The vet said if it is slow growing, they could put him on chemo and amputate his leg... but... I just can't really see putting him through that especially that he is an older ferret. If he was younger I think I would do that but I don't think I can put him through chemo and a leg amputation at the same time. I'm just surprised that I didn't notice the lump before. Does anyone have any advice? |
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Post by unclejoe on Oct 7, 2020 13:30:24 GMT -5
Wow I am at a loss. I've gone thru some stuff with over 30 ferrets, but the worst was dealing with 2-3 cases of insulinoma and lymphoma which both have hte same treatments.
It's not easy to say, but I know a ferret on a fb page that had his front leg amputated for cancer. He was a real fighter and learned to walk and play just fine as a tripod. Sadly, after about 4 months the cancer came back and took him quickly. I know that you are still dealing with one loss, but you should think about what your other little one would go through, the expense and the prognosis. I'm sorry all this hit at once.
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jerkk
Junior Member
Posts: 118
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Post by jerkk on Oct 7, 2020 13:45:11 GMT -5
Wow I am at a loss. I've gone thru some stuff with over 30 ferrets, but the worst was dealing with 2-3 cases of insulinoma and lymphoma which both have hte same treatments. It's not easy to say, but I know a ferret on a fb page that had his front leg amputated for cancer. He was a real fighter and learned to walk and play just fine as a tripod. Sadly, after about 4 months the cancer came back and took him quickly. I know that you are still dealing with one loss, but you should think about what your other little one would go through, the expense and the prognosis. I'm sorry all this hit at once. If you were in my position, what would you do? If it's slow growing (which I am honestly not very hopeful about, as I am very observant with them and just noticed it last night) would you try the chemo and the amputation? He actually had a cancer screening a few months ago and it came back relatively normal which makes me even more concerned. I just don't want to do the wrong thing if I decide not to put him through that. |
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Post by unclejoe on Oct 7, 2020 13:58:42 GMT -5
In any case, an amputation is very traumatic. I had a ferret with a blockage and put him thru h*ll with the surgery and he never recovered. We had another that had a skin tag/tumor. We had it removed and a month later he started sprouting tumors all over and he was gone in another month. Idk what chemo you mean, but we've always treated lymphoma with prednisolone, knowing it's not a cure. So-called "juvenile lymphoma" can affect adults, and I think it's one of those misused terms that refers to aggressive cancer. With the likelihood it is cancer, it could be the aggressive type, tho i hope not, and I don't think I could put my ferret or my budget through it just to give him a few more months, which might get ugly at the end anyway. I'm sorry, but that is my opinion. I am not a vet, and it's your decision.
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jerkk
Junior Member
Posts: 118
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Post by jerkk on Oct 7, 2020 14:12:33 GMT -5
In any case, an amputation is very traumatic. I had a ferret with a blockage and put him thru h*ll with the surgery and he never recovered. We had another that had a skin tag/tumor. We had it removed and a month later he started sprouting tumors all over and he was gone in another month. Idk what chemo you mean, but we've always treated lymphoma with prednisolone, knowing it's not a cure. So-called "juvenile lymphoma" can affect adults, and I think it's one of those misused terms that refers to aggressive cancer. With the likelihood it is cancer, it could be the aggressive type, tho i hope not, and I don't think I could put my ferret or my budget through it just to give him a few more months, which might get ugly at the end anyway. I'm sorry, but that is my opinion. I am not a vet, and it's your decision. Hearing your opinion made me feel better, actually. I am really thankful for your honesty as that is what I need right now. I just don't want to make his remaining days uncomfortable cause I try to extend his life for my own good. Just doesn't feel right to me. I will give him the best remaining days as I can. I really appreciate you and everyone else on this forum, I have learned a lot about ferrets and advocating for my pet(s) interests. I am kinda sad that the vet recommended that to me, if I am being honest. I think too many people try to prolong their pet's life and they stop thinking about quality of life over quantity. I think it would be worse for me to see him struggle and suffer through treatment. |
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Post by unclejoe on Oct 7, 2020 15:16:11 GMT -5
Ask about treating with prednisolone. It may not help much with aggressive lymphoma, but if it's the other type you can add months to his life. Since you were willing to spend the money for surgery and chemo, you might as well ask about a biopsy to get an accurate diagnosis to help you decide on how to proceed.
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jerkk
Junior Member
Posts: 118
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Post by jerkk on Oct 7, 2020 15:28:06 GMT -5
Ask about treating with prednisolone. It may not help much with aggressive lymphoma, but if it's the other type you can add months to his life. Since you were willing to spend the money for surgery and chemo, you might as well ask about a biopsy to get an accurate diagnosis to help you decide on how to proceed. I actually requested a biopsy already, as I feel like having some type of closure for the future is important to me. I will ask about the prednisolone. The vet said it could take a week to get the results we are trying to get the biopsy done today but it might have to wait until tomorrow. We don't have a lot of money but If I knew that surgery and chemo would almost guarantee to help I would do it, but I just don't see that helping more than it would hurt, unfortunately. |
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Post by Corvidophile on Oct 7, 2020 17:48:05 GMT -5
Thankfully prednisolone is a pretty cheap medicine, so I’d definitely pursue that. I’m shocked all this happened at once.
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jerkk
Junior Member
Posts: 118
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Post by jerkk on Oct 7, 2020 18:00:23 GMT -5
Thankfully prednisolone is a pretty cheap medicine, so I’d definitely pursue that. I’m shocked all this happened at once. I am also very shocked My poor babies. I miss Sable very bad. My other ferret got back from the vet and he is asleep in the carrier even after I left the door open for him. My heart hurts so much. I will ask about prednisolone when the results come back from the biopsy. I just feel so bad, I wish I could have prevented this from happening to them. |
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Post by brittanyb on Oct 8, 2020 7:16:14 GMT -5
I'm so very sorry for everything you're going through. 💔 I lost my sweet Finn to an aggressive cancer just over a year ago and my heart still hurts so badly. I miss him every single day. I'll be thinking of you and your ferret, and wishing you all the best! Please keep us updated.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Oct 8, 2020 8:10:01 GMT -5
Gosh, I am so sorry Jerkk. I understand your grief having lost two of my babies due to illnesses this year. Hope things work out for your little one.
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jerkk
Junior Member
Posts: 118
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Post by jerkk on Oct 8, 2020 10:40:31 GMT -5
Here are his Xrays if anyone is interested. You can clearly see the mass I don't know how I didn't notice it earlier considering how large it is. He's doing well right now. Eating, pooping, acting normal. I'm planning on taking him to places and letting him see some more of the world before he has to leave. Thank you all for the support and kind words, it really really means a lot to me right now. ibb.co/MSFpfGJibb.co/198nh7m |
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