In this case, I would strongly recommend that the lymph nodes be at least
aspirated, and preferably biopsied to examined for lymphoma.  Lymphoma
treatment should not begin simply by seeing enlarged lymph nodes, as they
may be enlarged for a number of reasons.
 
Plus, if you biopsy or aspirate after you have started the prednisone, the
signs of lymphoma may be masked by the steroid administration.
 
While ferrets are fairly steroid-resistant, the indiscriminate use of
prednisone in the absence of a disease which requires it may result in
1) refractoriness when and if the animal actually needs it to treat
insulinoma, inflammatory bowel disease, or lymphoma (after a positive
diagnosis) and b) at higher doses, the possibility of developing
iatrogenic hyperadrenocorticism is indeed a reality in the ferrets.
 
Bottom line - ask to have those lymph nodes examined more closely before
starting to treat for anything....
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3691]