I know that there's been some debate over isoflurane anethesia vs. ketamine
anethesia and I wanted to share with everyone what I found out this morning.
I recently acquired two little fuzzies from the Pennsylvania Rescue Assoc.
(thanks again, Kim...I just love them to death!).  Ozzy is approx.  2 years
old, chocolate male, dreadfully skinny, bad cough, but other than that, he's
very active, loves to play, very friendly and gives kisses!  Zeppelin is
approx.  4 years old, sable male, not as skinny as Ozzy, but could use
another pound or so, also very active, loves to play, very friendly, gives
kisses and loves to sleep on mommy's lap.  But, unfortunately, Zep has two
skin tumors on his back and one on his foot.  The vet told me that they look
like mast cell growths, but he can't be sure until they operate and give a
biopsy.  I brought Ozzy and Zep back to the vet this morning.  Ozzy needs a
complete blood count and x-rays and Zep was admitted for surgery.  They will
be removing all three of the tumors and giving him x-rays to make sure that
there are no more tumors inside his body.  I'm praying that he comes through
okay.  I was VERY worried about the anesthesia after what I read on the FML,
so asked two of the hospital's top doctors about it and they BOTH told me
that isoflurane is the safest anethesia around and that they have heard
about problems with ketamine.  In fact, one of the doctors went as far as to
say that he would refuse to do the surgery if I wouldn't let him use
isoflurane because he felt that ketamine was much riskier.  I trust these
doctors (they are both ferret lovers and ferret experts and performed many,
many surgeries.  They also attend medical conferences on ferret diseases,
etc.  and know more than I could ever hope to know about treating ferrets
and diseases.  And, one of them subscribes to this list).  I just wanted
everyone to know what I was told this morning.  And, also please say a
prayer for Zep that he doesn't have cancer and that he pulls through this
operation with no serious problems.
 
Jenni
Oso  "Where did my two new buddies go?  I want them back NOW!"
Ozzy "Where are they taking my brother?!  You better not hurt him or
I'll bite yer butt!"
Zep "I'll be okay mommy...I just want to get this over with so I can
come home and sleep on your lap!"
[Posted in FML issue 2249]