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Ferrets can do just fine wthout their spleen.
 
For the surgeon: ligate the vessels as close as you can to the spleen,
so you do not damage the blood supply to the stomach (this is the same
as in dog or cat spleen surgery, except the ferret blood vessels are
smaller).  I would also recommend Sevo or Iso only for the anesthesia
(avoid the injectables).  Expect the ferret to be nauseated after the
surgery.  Sometimes Carafate and an antacid such as liquid tagamet,
zantac, pepcid, etc are needed for the first few days post-op to help
with the nausea.  A semi liquid diet (Gerber's baby food: "second stage"
Chicken with chicken gravy or Hill's a/d) may also help increase the
appetite.  Keep this ferret isolated from other ferrets for a few days
too to help limit the activity level and allow the ferret to heal.
 
Hope that helps and lets us know what the pathology report says.
 
Jerry Murray, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 4591]