First off, a public thanks to all who expressed condolences on Nolan's
passing.  It helps to know that there are so many caring ferret lovers out
there.  Maila has been much more subdued than normal.  I'll have to keep a
close eye on her.
 
I wanted to post the results of Nolan's necropsy, mostly because the results
were quite unexpected and something I have never heard of in ferrets before.
I would appreciate any comments from the resident vets if there is anything
interesting in this:
 
===========================
Gross: Necropsy revealed a blood-filled abdominal cavity.  There were
multiple large (1.5 cm diameter) nodular enlargements projecting from the
visceral surface of the liver.  These nodules were of the same consistency
and color as the rest of the liver from which they were projecting.
However, there were irregular, blood-filled spaces within these nodules.
The blood in the abdominal cavity apparently originated from one of these
friable structures, as clotted blood was adhering to fine fractures in one
of these nodules.  No lesions were observed in pancreas or any other
internal organs.
 
Histopathology: Microscopic examination did not reveal any significant
lesions in lung, spleen, kidney, pancreas, stomach, or intestine.
Examination of the nodules from the liver revealed irregular proliferation
of hepatic cords formed by nearly normal-appearing hepatocytes.  There were
central veins and portal tracts in many areas of these nodules but large,
dilated endothelial-lined spaces (telangiectasia) as well.
 
Diagnosis: Rupture and hemorrhage from one of these nodules apparently led
to hypovolemic shock and death.  The nodules varied slightly in microscopic
appearance and could be described as hyperplastic or adenomas.  The cause is
uncertain.  The animal appeared to be too young for nodular hyperplasia of
old age.  Some strains of mice develop similar tumors spontaneously.  I
don't know if ferrets do.  The possibility of exposure to some type of
carcinogen should also be considered.
==============================
---
Randy A. Brown
[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1549]