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Post by mariep on Jul 2, 2011 9:56:05 GMT -5
Our ferret has developed a mass behind his penis, it is roughly the size of a marble. He is still eating and drinking and pooping, I cannot tell if he is urinating.
I noticed this yesterday, but am unable to take him to a vet due to the holiday weekend. Has anyone seen or heard of what can cause this?
Thank you!
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Post by miamiferret2 on Jul 2, 2011 10:22:22 GMT -5
Watch him & make sure he's urinating. Do you know how to express his bladder? If you see him frantically running from corner to corner & nothing comes out then he has a problem. Males do develop prostatic cysts and tumors (often associated with Adrenal disease). Is he adrenal? Is the mass hard? (Don't squeeze though). A visit to the vet is definitely in order. If he can't urinate (and if you don't know how to express his bladder) this is something you can try: put down a large deep bowl (like a dogs food bowl) and let your ferret climb into it. For some reason, if they have prostate issues, whenever they climb over the lip of the bowl (and their penis/bladder crosses over the lip) it helps them urinate. I guess it presses on their bladder or it pushes on their prostate.  i don't know but it has always worked with my adrenal boys w/ prostate issues. we call the dog's empty food bowl the "blue toilet" (the bowl is blue). You can also use a hand towel soaked in very warm water and hold it up to their penis/ bladder area or let them sit in the sink when it is part full of warm water. If he cannot urinate at all in 8 hours then this will be a true emergency and you will have to take him to the pet ER.  please let me know what happens. |
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Post by mariep on Jul 2, 2011 12:54:50 GMT -5
We put him in the bathtub with the bowl of warm water and he did pee and poop. He did not make any noise when he did this, so I don't think it is painful.
He does not show any symptoms of being adrenal. The only thing off about his coat is that his whiskers seem to have broken off.
Thank you for the tips, I feel a bit better knowing that he is not completely blocked.
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Post by Heather on Jul 2, 2011 13:12:17 GMT -5
Whiskers are a good sign of health, especially if they've been long up until now. Keep a close eye on him and then take him to the vet asap. I've read of couple of these recently. Inevitably they do prevent urination so it will be have to be dealt with. Good luck, please keep us updated as to his condition....we worry about the little ones
ciao
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Post by mariep on Jul 31, 2011 16:42:46 GMT -5
Sorry for the delay in updates, life is crazy.
I did take Pumba to the vet and he has cancer. Due to his age and the location of the cell mass we are not going to try to have it removed. The mass is directly behind his penis and the vet is afraid his urethra would be damaged during the surgery and he would have to euthanize on the table.
Dr. Welch said he sees this about once every 5 years, so it is very rare. However, an interesting fact we learned from this, is the that ferrets are the only animal not bothered by cancer. The mass will grow and it will bother me more than it does him. He feels no pain from this and it is not affecting his quality of life at all. Had the mass been in another location or on a female, it could have easily been removed, but given our case, there is no way to ensure that all of the cells are removed without damaging the urethra. If he were to go in and remove part of the mass, it would grow back and Pumba would have to recover from the surgery. I feel it would be putting undue stress on him.
Pumba is 5 years old and we are not willing to risk shortening our time with him. Since he is not in pain and all we have to deal with is an ugly mass, we are not going to pursue further treatment.
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Post by Sherry on Jul 31, 2011 17:04:24 GMT -5
I am so very, very sorry to hear this. It's never fair when our little ones get some disease or illness that is going to take them from us before their time  I do, however, have to take exception with this comment by your vet: However, an interesting fact we learned from this, is the that ferrets are the only animal not bothered by cancer. Our Sinnead also had a mass, but in her abdomen. And she was most certainly bothered by it Ultimately, her pain meds just quit working for her, and we had to take her in for that final journey |
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Post by crazylady on Jul 31, 2011 19:00:16 GMT -5
Hi a friend of mines ferret developed the same thing a few years ago his unfortunately started behind the penis just as in your case but one of his testes ( he was a whole ferret ) also became quickly enlarged so check in the scrotum area too even though your baby maybe castrated he happily survived for 6 months after diagnosis then was helped to the bridge as the mass became large and there was a fear of it bursting open as it began oozing around the penile area good luck with your baby take each day as it comes and enjoy him to the fullest take care bye for now
Bev aka crazy lady
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Post by Heather on Jul 31, 2011 19:32:31 GMT -5
Perhaps, what the vet meant was that they don't necessarily "appear" to feel pain as we do and some cancers do not appear to cause the pain that we feel. The problem I have with the statement is we really don't know. Ferrets are very good at masking their symptoms and their pain. Minion, played and cavorted around acting like he felt no pain at all. I was surprised as I know the pain that he should have been in. It was only after his surgery and the change in his demeanor and behaviour made me only too aware how extreme his pain had been. No, they do feel pain, but because of what they are (carnivores) they are very adept at hiding it. Remember this when dealing with your wee one. Don't be overly critical and don't try to see what isn't there but do observe closely. These masses cause severe and painful pressures on internal organs and if it starts to block his ability to urinate, the pressure caused by a full bladder is very painful. I agree with your decision and wouldn't do the surgery either. Love him and live each day as it comes, and when it finally happens that he is in pain or can no longer live with peace and quality be his best friend and love him that little bit more. I'm sorry that you've reached this point with your wee one, it is heartbreaking but I've had some of my most loving times with my wee ones at this time. Enjoy him
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jul 31, 2011 20:44:08 GMT -5
Sounds like the right decision to me, I wonder if the mushroom supplement would help lenghten the time? Others know more about this than I.
These things are not predictable, and there may very well be much more time than one may expect!
I look at my babies and cherish every moment whether they are sick or not, each one is different and special and their time here should be at its best. Just like us.....give everyone the best of yourself and Carpe Diem!!!(Seize the Day!!!)
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