When my Hooligan was almost 8, he developed cardiomypathy and had periodic
ultrasounds done to trace the progress of the disease.  My vet used
Isofluorane (sp?), an anesthetic gas, set to the minimal dose possible to
put him and keep him under; the flow was monitored and adjusted as necessary
during the period of sedation.  Each time, before anesthetizing Hooligan, my
vet ran a battery of tests to make sure it was safe to put him under.
 
During one ultrasound session, while the cardiologist was monitoring, my vet
drew off with a syringe a large quantity of fluid from his chest cavity.  I
believe that in that session, Hooligan was under for approx. 30 minutes.
 
Admittedly, my vet did not like sedating Hooligan, and saved it for times
when sedation was absolutely necessary.  For other times, like the periodic
ECGs, we used Nutrapet or Linatone to keep his mind off the contacts.
 
At the same time that Hooligan developed cardiomyopathy, he also had a
lymphoma in his chest cavity just in front of the heart.  (He may have also
had an adrenal tumor, but that was the least of his worries.) My vet said
that he would have operated if Hooligan had been younger, but did not want
to subject him to surgery at the age of almost 8.  So the last bit of
surgery Hooligan had was at 7 1/2 when he had some reconstruction done on
one of his back knees -- he recovered beautifully.  (Of course, at that
time, he was a completely healthy ferret.)
 
I've always found that, at least for me, it's safe to go with what the vet
says because s/he is the specialist.  My vets have always discussed options
with me, including looking at the financial cost/danger to ferret/benefit to
ferret matrix.
 
One thing I'd like to throw out for comment:
When we realized that Hooligan did have cancer, we rejected the surgical
route (because of age) and decided to go with the clinical one.  However, my
vet could not find one of the chemo drugs (of the 14-drug cocktail shaker of
medication), nor could he locate a catheter tiny enough to implant in
Hooligan's jugular.  So we ended up rejecting chemotherapy.  However, my vet
put Hooligan on a combination of Pau D'Arco (a herbal medication) and
Vitamin C; the dosage was determined by Hooligan's weight.  While Pau D'Arco
has been touted as a cancer remedy, the reference my vet was using said it
would boost Hooligan's immune system.  I don't know if there is any direct
correlation, but in the six months between the discovery of the lymphoma and
Hooligan's death, the tumor did not appear to have grown and Hooligan was
pretty good shape for a sick little guy.  Have any of you people tried Pau
D'Arco and Vitamin C?  I can try to find the name of the reference book if
anyone is interested.
 
Anyway, Judith, best of luck with your Chloe.  I'll be thinking good
thoughts at her.
 
Cheryl Freedman (and the spirits of Hooligan and Circe)
[Posted in FML issue 2060]