My guys had also had oversized livers and weird blood work that showed
elevated liver enzymes and possible hepatitis.  They were underweight and
just seemed to sleep an awful lot more than other ferrets.
 
It turned out they had been exposed to ECE, as most pet store ferrets
have, it was the underlying problem that usually creates IBD in ferrets.
Since my vet wanted to charge me $900-$1200 per ferret for biopsies, I
opted to treat them and see how they did, since they did not have life
threatening symptoms.
 
They were treated with 4 kinds of antibiotics and Pepto.  After a month
blood work was taken again and the results were still higher than normal,
but not as high as they were.  They were then treated with Imuran for
IBD, after 2 months their blood work came back normal.
 
People told me there are ferret vets out there that push the IBD
diagnosis as kind of a catch all.  So I took them to a vet that doesn't
diagnose every sick ferret as IBD and that vet looked at both guys and
their records and agreed with the diagnosis and treatment.  She also told
me they would need to be on it for life, because IBD in ferrets doesn't
go away and they tend to progress to insulinoma and/or lymphoma.
 
Imuran is very inexpensive and a $35 bottle lasts for about 3 months.  It
is an immuno depressive drug, suppresses the immune system, so I just
don't let them get in situations where they are exposed to other ferrets
and can pick something up.
 
They have good weight, not getting fat, more active, much happier,
healthier looking and overall seem to be doing much better.  Not everyone
agrees with Imuran and/or IBD, but for my guys it works for them.
 
With luck that may be all that it is.  Good luck and let me know how it
goes.
 
Kim the Oregon one
 
Kim Reyes
Associate Broker
John L. Scott Real Estate
Direct:  (503) 380-4195
Toll Free 1-877-490-2595
http://www.kimreyes.com
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[Posted in FML issue 3961]