I could sure use some help on this one--don't know where to go with it at
this point.
 
a 1-1/2 year old neutered male ferret was presented at the emergency vet
hospital where I work on about June 14.  His owners said he had collapsed
after showing signs of illness only for the past 1-2 days.  His temperature
was 104, he was dehydrated and depressed--virtually totally unresponsive.
We gave him SQ fluids, prescribed antibiotics (Amoxidrop) and provided a
soupy diet to hand feed.  An xray was unremarkable other than a somewhat
enlarged spleen.  He had no history of illness.
 
Two days later he was presented to their own family vet because of
dehydration.  Owners were unable to force enough fluids by mouth.  They were
referred to a second vet because this one did not feel confident with
ferrets.  The second vet diagnosed cancer without benefit of lab work and
gave therapeutic doses of vincristine and cytoxan, and although unable to
place a catheter and with the animal vomiting and with diarrhea, conducted
an abdominal exporatory.  According to the vet, all internal organs looked
fine although the spleen was somewhat enlarged.  There was an intestinal
infection.  The spleen was not removed.  A stomach feeding tube was placed.
The animal was moved to the original emergency facility for overnight care
following surgery.  The owners elected to relinquish the ferret to my care
due to mounting bills and a dispute regarding the way the care was
proceding.  The animal came in dehydrated, vomiting and with diarrhea.
Amoxicillin, carafate, pepto bismol were prescribed by the surgeon.  We
immediately placed an IV catheter and started LRS with 5% dextrose.  By
swtiching the animal from A/D, which I have found to be too rich for
ferrets, to a puree of the animal's regular food, the vomiting and diarrhea
ceased almost immediately.  It was possbile to discontinue the peptol
bismol.  Antibiotics were switched to IV and the animal began to improve
quickly.
 
Over the course of the next few days, the ferret's PCV dropped to 17 and it
became moribund.  A transfusion of 10 ml of whole blood was given.  12 hours
later the ferret spiked a temperature of 105 and dispite ice packs, remained
there for 3 days.  The temp then slowly decreased to normal and the animal
would take a soupy food voluntarilay.  In one week the PCV had climbed to 35
and now, at more than 1 month from the original date of illness, it is at
39.  The animal was unable to walk.  A CBC, ferret panel and spinal xrays
were done.  The xray was normal, the panel showed all functions within
normal range and the CBC was unremarkable.  The ferret was given an
injection of 10mg of prednisone and within 12 hours began to walk, although
appeared weak in the rear legs.  Once the dose was reduced to 5 mg and then
to 2 mg, all walking ceased.  Antibiotics and prednisone have been continued
in low doses but the animal is unable to walk and ceased to eat dry food
after doing so for 3 days.  He will take a soupy diet but still requires
daily SQ fluids to prevent dehydration.  He is depressed and only very
moderately responsive.  He can crawl short distances but cannot walk.  Temp
and other vital signs are stable and normal.  Where do we go from here?  Any
and all comments will be appreciated.  Lab work can be sent, if it will be
useful.  It was been reviewed by our emergency vets and found to be within
normal ranges, although these vets have limited experience with ferrets.
 
Thanks for your time.
 
        Carolyn Kinsey, Ferret Rescue of the Western States
[Posted in FML issue 2018]