To Readers of Ferret List:
 
Well, I've lurked for a long time and now Skilly has a rather serious
problem that forces me out of my cave and into the light.  Some time ago
I described my concerns over a tumor that was removed from the tip of her
tail and the lack of hair growth.  Fortunately, the hair grew back, but
now we've got a new, much more serious problem.  The following is a
summary provided by my vet of her history.
 
Signalment:
5 year old female spayed ferret
 
History:
Presented to Emergency Clinic 2/26/95
i)   weak, listless,weight loss-owner says always somewhat small and thin.
ii)  Exam-dehydrated, depressed, possible anterior abdominal mass
iii) Lab-PCV 68% / T.P. 6 /Glu 11
iv)  X-rays-possible anterior abdominal mass
 
Presented to regular vet-2/27/95
i)   Exploratory Surgery-liver looks fine grossly except hard nodule
     biopsied-kidneys,pancreas o.k.-firm area in mesentery biopsied
ii)  Histopath Results-Lymph Node fragment from liver-normal
     lymphocytes-lymphocytic aggregate from mesentary normal lymphocytes
iii) Treatment-fluids,glucose
iv)  Chemistry Profile-Glu 69/BUN 13 /Creatinine .4 /TP 4.5 /Albumin 2.4
     /AST 158/ ALT 1130/WBC estimate adequate-segs 82/lymph 11/ Mono 5/Eos 2
v)   Ferret presently eating well, hair growing in from surgery-no weight
     gain as of 3-14-95-very thin-mushy stools (fed a lot of nutrical)
 
Considering:
Diagnostics-Liver Biopsy (Not really an option.  She's been through
enough already)
Treatment-Steroids???
Differential Diagnosis-Chronic Liver Disease? Protein losing Enteropathy?
Malabsorption/Maldigestion?
 
That's it.  I would greatly appreciate any input on this matter from anyone.
We're a little stumped right now as to how to proceed.  Apparently the
steroid treatment is a little controversial but nobody seems to have any
other bright ideas.
 
Thank you,
Mark Jones
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[Posted in FML issue 1135]