In reading the posts on Roxie and the suspected insulinoma, I would just
like to relay my compassion and support to Roxie's Mom and the Cheryl.
While this may not be the same type of episode-- I think sharing is always a
good thing when it comes to ferret health.
 
We had an older kid who one year ago started showing the occasion wobbling
signs, he was a thin kid, and on May 16th last year he had his very first
full blown seizure.  While the shelter Mom and Dad were doing an education
event upstate, the shelter helper called and we coached her through the
insulinoma diagnostics.  The seizure subsided, and we put him on a
insulinoma protocol.  What I think is important here is to tell you the
blood levels showed no signs of insulinoma, we were without explanation and
over a period of time the seizures would manifest over and over-- each time
being more violent and exhausting.  From shortly after the first few
seizures our boy developed a cataract in his left eye-- as he was over 7 we
thought nothing of it.
 
In October the ferret awoke in the Am with one eye very bulbous and greenish
in color.  Our regular vet not available (once again we were on an
educational trip) the shelter vet used the backup ferret knowledgeable vet.
He tried to claim the ferret (without any history) had an ulcerated
cataract.  Treated with antibiotics and asked to surgically stitch the third
eye lid shut.  Thank goodness the volunteer didn't bite on this but deferred
until she could consult.  When we returned it was evident at least to me who
had been watching the seizures accelerate from mild to violent that the
reason for these was a tumor.
 
Our boy was in pain and as I held him he chittered and ticked-- (I think he
was asking for rest).  We took him over to the shelter vet after hours and
she examined him and confirmed my already held suspicions.  A retro bulbar
tumor ( I think that is how she stated it).  Our boy ate a raisin, gave me
kisses and finally slept a peaceful sleep.  The eye was removed just to make
sure we weren't wrong.  The eye itself was fine, no ulcerated cataract, no
infection at all.  The green was from the pressure of the tissue against the
eye.  There was a large mass of fibrous tissue where they eye cavity should
be.  I did not send a sample out..  perhaps now I feel it would have been
worth it.
 
There IS a possibility that there may be some lymphosarcoma or other growth
causing the seizure behaviors.  They could also be on the brain stem, we
lost a gal to lymphosarcoma of the brain stem, she also seizured.  The
unfortunate part is without knowing where to look, by the time we ( ferret
caretakers) find it the animal has little hope left.
 
I send lots of love and hope for your Roxie, may you be able to isolate the
cause of her physical manifestations in time to give her some more quality
time.
 
Fondly in ferrets,
Alicia a shelter Mom
[Posted in FML issue 1937]