>From:    JAMIE MITCHELL <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: zoie's sick......
>
>sleeping on my chest and he was laying on his back and he has this
>really hard mass on his left side (while lying on his back) and it
>starts just above his ribs and goes down to his " bellybutton".
 
This sounds like an enlarged spleen, which is not all that uncommon in
older ferrets.  Sometimes the enlargement is the result of other health
problems and sometimes it's enlarged without any underlying problems.
Generally speaking, an enlarged spleen is not a major concern, though if
it is grossly enlarged, it could rupture and/or displace other organs.
If it gets that large, it can be removed and Zoie won't miss it.  This is
probably unrelated to the diarrhea.
 
For the ferrets,
Mike
 
* Michael Janke, [log in to unmask]
* South Florida Ferret Help Line, 305-385-6750
*
* Website:  http://www.miamiferret.org
* Adrenal/Insulinoma web site: http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc
*
* Ferret Health List: http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
[Posted in FML issue 4052]