Linda, I am so sorry for your loss.  Munchie should not have died!  I can
sympathize because I am still mourning the loss of my ferret Teebone.  I
wrote several months ago to the FML about the death of my ferret following
surgery.  Thank you Michael Janke, Pam Franklin and Dick Bossart for
responding to my post, I hope you received my replies of gratitude.
 
In Sept. '97 I had the Tenn.  adrenal panel done on Teebone and it came
back positive.  What I could not understand is when the vet brought Teebone
back to me following the blood draw, she was hypersalivating.  The vet said
it was normal, but I told him that I had never seen this in any of my
ferrets with isoflurane.  What I assumed was that he had used iso to
anesthetize her for the blood draw.  The vet and I had talked about
anesthesia types before the procedure and he said he used isoflurane, but
later at home when I looked at the bill it said "anesthesia-intravenous."
Isoflurane is an inhalant agent (gas).  Ketamine can be used either
intravenously (I.V.) or intramuscular (I.M.) I believe this vet misled me
and I would never have let him touch my baby if I knew he was going to use
Ketamine.
 
Of course he never came right out and told me he used Ketamine.  That is why
I wrote him an eleven page letter last week asking him questions on why he
did not perform pre-surgical bloodwork, because I signed a consent form
before the surgery indicating I wanted it done.  I questioned him on why he
did not use an I.V. for supportive fluids during and after the surgery.  I
explained to him how I thought the pathology results he sent me on Teebones'
liver, adrenal and mesenteric lymph nodes all indicated to me that there
were no serious problems that would have led to Teebone's death.
 
The adrenal gland showed hyperplasia, not carcinoma.  I explained to the
vet, in my letter, that the problems with the liver and the lymph nodes, in
my opinion, were indicative of the bacteria, Helicobacter mustela.  There
was no carcinoma or lymphoma shown by the pathology report.  There is no
reason Teebone should have died, except that the vet used Ketamine which can
cause hypersalivation, irregular heartbeat and has many other side effects.
 
I believe Teebone's glucose level dropped without any supportive fluids such
as dextrose and she went into a coma and died.  It has been a week since I
sent the letter and I have not had a reply.  What is so frustrating is that
there is nothing I can do to this vet if indeed he did use Ketamine.
 
The vet stated in his letter with the pathology report that, as I could see,
there were several problems with Teebone.  He also said he would not explain
the reports to me because he did not want to insult my intelligence!
 
The sad lesson I have learned from my Tee Tee's death is this:
Talk with your vet before any test or surgery.  Inform the vet that you want
pre-surgical blood work done, supportive fluids during and after the surgery
and ask the vet what anesthesia agent he/she uses!  It can mean the
difference between life and death for your precious ferret.
 
After the positive adrenal blood test came back, I asked the vet for a
referral to Vet.  Specialists, a hospital that I have always used for my
ferrets operations.  He acted "taken back" and said that he could do the
surgery.  He said that he had done several adrenal surgeries on ferrets.
What I neglected to ask him is how many of those ferrets survived.
 
I miss Tee Tee so much and so does her sister, Weezul.
 
Judith, Weezul and Coco.
[Posted in FML issue 2240]