To Doug, who lost a one-year-old ferret to severe seizures,
 
It is somewhat difficult to say what, in retrospect, might have caused the
seizures that killed your first ferret.  Of course, insulin secreting tumors
are very prevalent in ferrets and often cause seizures, so that would have to
be at the top of the list.
 
        Another consideration is severe liver or kidney disease.  Severe
impairment of either of these organs allow toxic substances to build up in the
bloodstream, which can depress the brain, and result in seizure activity.
 
        Another possibility would be an organic problem in the brain itself,
which was able to generate the spontaneous, bizarre electrical activity that is
manifested as seizures.  A brain tumor, trauma, or simply an irritable focus of
brain tissue could cause severe seizures such as the ones you describe.
 
        Here's hoping Pauly has a longer and happy life....
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 1116]