FERRET-SEARCH@LISTSERV.FERRETMAILINGLIST.ORG
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Tue, 12 Jan 1999 17:58:13 -0500 |
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If this topic has previously been discussed & I missed it, please accept my
apologies for bringing it up again.
Bandit is a MF ferret approximately 5 years old. I adopted Bandit & Buster
just over 3 years ago & at that time I was told that they were 2yo. They
were my introduction (by fire <g>) to ferrets. Within 2 months of adopting
them, Bandit totally blocked (Urinary tract). I knew *very* little about
ferrets & had never heard of adrenal glands, never mind adrenal tumors.
Apparently the vet I was using didn't know a whole lot more. She performed
a P/U on Bandit (for those that don't know what a P/U is - it anatomically
changes a he to a she pretty much). Six months later Bandit was blocked
again & the vet didn't know what to do. I quickly found a wonderful
exotics vet 2 hours from my home who explained all about adrenal tumors &
operated on Bandit "fixing" the problem for good. Or so we thought. It's
now been 2-1/2 years since Bandit's adrenal surgery & he is again straining
to "go" though he doesn't appear totally blocked at this point. It's hard
to tell what function is causing his problem though. Often he strains &
produces nothing but other times he strains & produces about a
quarter-sized puddle of urine or a short thin squiggle of poop. It's hard
to tell if he's have a bowel problem or UT problem. Assuming it was a UTI,
the vet (no longer the one that did the P/U or the one that did the adrenal
surgery) put him on Amoxi. Thirty-six hours later there was no improvement
so he was x-rayed. The x-rays indicates that 1 of his kidneys is very
enlarged. Bandit is also scheduled for an ultra-sound on Friday & since
the vet isn't convinced that he isn't also having a bowel problem, he may
be having a barium series done soon after the ultra-sound. In the
mean-time his antibiotic has been changed to Baytril 2x/day and I'm
continuing to give him so petro-malt (incase it is a partial bowel
obstruction after all).
I'd like to know if anyone has experience with a ferret exhibiting similar
symptoms and what was the diagnosis & outcome. I'd also like to know if
anyone has had a ferret with a very large kidney & what was the cause &
outcome. Naturally I'm worried about cancer & anything else that might
have a dire prognosis. So far Bandit appears alert & still begs for
treats, he just spends too much time being uncomfortable, running from
corner to corner & straining to go with little or no "output". :-(
TIA,
Diane & the gang
[Posted in FML issue 2554]
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