Cindy and Baby,
 
Although splenectomy is an abdominal surgery it is straight forward.  When
isoflurane is used for anesthesia the ferrets wake up quickly after surgery
and can usually go home the same night (if surgery is performed early) or the
next day.  Post operatively we recommend limited activity for 7 days (don't
encourage playing and seperate the ferret that had surgery for at least 2-3
days).  When the patient comes home it is usually best to feed in small
amounts 3-4 times a day for the first day or two.  Suture removal in 10-14
days.  The potential complications include bleeding (usually within the first
24 hrs.), infection (within first 48-72 hrs.).  Warning signs indicating
complications include gums that are pale (rather then pink), poor appetite,
lethargy, swellins or inflamation at suture line.
 
I would like to reinforce a point that Dr. Williams and myself have made
before about early signs of adrenal disease.  I did surgery on a patient
today who had hair loss on his tail and on his back (above the tail) one year
ago.  It was not a big concern to the vet or client because with time the
hair grew back again.  This year when the hair loss came back they brought
him into see me.  Today I did surgery and we found an adrenal tumor, a
splenic tumor and a liver tumor.  Fortunately the liver tumor involved only
one of the six liver lobes and we were able to remove the liver lobe, spleen
and one adrenal gland.
The biopsy results are not back yet but I suspect the tumor started in the
adrenal gland and spread to the spleen and liver.
The only reason I mention this is to reinforce how important it is to know
the symptoms of the common diseases and in the case of adrenal tumors it is
critical to remove them when the symptoms are present and not wait and see.
 Adrenal tumors are by far the most common disease that causes hair loss in
the ferret.  If there is hair loss or thinning in the ferret it is usually
recommended to do surgeryn to diagnose and treat the problem.  If the hair
loss is exclussively involving the tail it could be seasonal hair loss and
surgery is not recommended (unless other symptoms of adrenal tumors are
present).  Other symptoms include iItchy skin, swollen vulva (females),
return to sexual male behavior (in neutered males).
 
By the way our patient that had surgery today is doing just fine.
 
Dr. Weiss
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301-299-4142
[Posted in FML issue 1078]