Hi fuzzie lovers,
My name is Michelle and I write in occasionally.  It has been a while
because I am a senior in vet school and don't have a lot of time.  I would
like to reply to the person with the lymphoma ferret that wrote in recently
concerned about what to do.  You were giving 1.5 mg pediapred, lasix, and
amoxi.  That is a very high dose of Pred and anytime you put an animal on
high dose steroids, you need to use gastric protectants.  Sucralfate is like
a stomach band-aid and coats the ulcer, the ranitidine is an H2 blocker just
like Tagamet or Pepcid AC.  Your guy should have been on these all along
with the pred therapy.  I am assuming the pred is to try to slow tumor
growth, the lasix is a diuretic so your little guy must have had some kind
of pulmonary edema or abominal effusion,the amoxi must be to prevent or
treat secondary infections like a pneumonia, etc.  Is that right?  I wish I
had some answers about a good chemotherapy for you, but we haven't treated a
lympho ferret since I've been a senior.  There is an excellent oncologist at
my school that I could ask some questions.  If anyone would know about what
could work it would be her.  She has put some very aggressive (into the
spinal cord) lymphomas into remission in some dogs and cats.  Maybe she
would have some advice for you.  Write my personal email address if you
would like that, okay.  Also I would like to make a general reply about what
was written about veterinarians and what they can or cannot do for ferrets.
It is true that not all veterinarians know or have the skill to work on
ferrets.  I have three and lost one last year, and have taken it upon myself
to research, learn, and gain knowledge.  And you are also right about not
every school teaches you about them.  They do not at mine.  But, out there
in the real world, you will find the above is true for dogs, cats, or any
one species just about.  The key is to ask a lot of questions about your
vet's experience.  Don't forget experience isn't everything though.If they
are willing to learn and grow and call more experienced vets and ask
questions and refer cases when needed then by all means, give them a chance.
 
I am not sure where I will be practicing at yet, but I hope I can do my best
to provide the upmost care and medicine and surgery for these guys.  I hope
to hear from some of you soon.  To all of you out there, I have access to
many experienced doctors, a great library, and other items, if any of you
ever have a subject or question you would like me to try to look up or ask a
specialist, just give me a holler over the computer.
 
                                        Sincerely, Michelle
[Posted in FML issue 2126]