Hi,
 
I've been to vets a few times every month this year, and am growing weary,
but continue to get into one whenever necessary.
 
Claudette, three 1/3 years, albino, non-Marshall farm jill, has a round
raised circle on her neck beneath her chin.  I discovered it last night, so
it can't have been there very long, as Claudette and I cuddle a lot.  It's
about 3/8" across and is round, except for one little bite out of the circle
at about six to eight pm location.  There is still hair on area, the area is
red and the skin doesn't look encrusted at all.
 
Three months ago (at the onset, following the birth of her second litter),
her nodes (neck, knees, armpits) became enlarged as she gained a lot of
weight.  She's never exhibited any symptoms of lmphosarcoma, and an
experienced vet said the nodes felt like fat and that her spleen would be
enlarged if she had lymphsarcoma (the spleen is normal).  She received
antibiotics, and the nodes receded a bit.  She's very healthy and as she
loses weight, the size of the nodes has begun to recede much more.
 
I suspect a mast cell tumor.  I'll be speaking with my vet today and will
ask him.  Please advise.
 
Re: Squeek: Hi Shaun.  Your messages about Flavia have given me a little
heart in my search to help Squeek (my three-month-old kit) be able to stand,
hold up his head, and walk again.  He was on chlorophenical for two weeks,
with not a great amount of improvement, although his vital signs stabilyzed.
Now he's on Baytril!  It excited me that Baytril was the antibiotic that
finally helped Flavia (although her problem is different, every story
gives me a glimmer of hope).  Squeek struggles so hard to crawl and can
only barely pull himself around, all the time rolling over and losing his
balance, ending on his back, curled up, staring off with a look of sorrow
and frustration.  PLEASE KEEP PULLING FOR SQUEEK EVERYONE, and thanks to
Alex for encouraging us with your kind letters entitled "don't give up
hope :) " He's still prancing around in the grass bathed in sunshine, as
long as I support his head and tummy and give him a little help.
 
To Pam Grant: You mentioned light in relation to your adrenal theories, but
I didn't understand the connection.  Our ferrets are kept in a room with a
huge window (facing east) across from their cage doors, so I'm very
interested in your theory (five of our nine are Marshall Farms ferrets!).
 
Lynn Mc.
[Posted in FML issue 1585]