>>I've got my first Adrenal ferret scheduled for surgery on Friday. Wow! > >I've got my ferret scheduled for next Wednesday. I am quite scared about >it but I am comfortable with my vet. Since yours is before mine, could >you let me know how it went and the total cost? My regular vet is going >to charge $350 if left, $550 if right. This surgery is going to cost me >a minimum of $287 and he is going to remove all of the left and a portion >of the right. I will ask about a biopsy...that sounds like a good idea! >I imagine biopsies will be an additional charge. I called the ferret's >old vet just out of curiosity, and he quoted $225 for the surgery, but >he's had less experience and never removed a right tumor. > >>I recommend you read the Adrenal FAQ, which will list all the possible >>risks. For example, studies show a 10-12% rate of post-operative >>mortality, presumably because ferrets can't compensate for the loss of >>hormones. It also lists chances of left being affected (65%? something >>like that) or right (26%?) or both (about 10%). > >These facts are interesting...thanks for the links! Keep me updated on >your little fuzzy! > >>It is here: >> http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/med/adrenal.html >> (I printed it to discuss with my vet.) >> >>This is a constantly updated survey which will give you an idea how >>often the surgery fails and things like that: >> >> http://www.miamiferret.org/FHC/vote.htm Bad news about Kerby. The vet called me mid-procedure to say that she did not find what we had expected. His Adrenal glands looked normal (granted, that may be deceiving), but his kidney was "very strange--enlarged and seepy." His spleen was also enlarged. Although the vet wanted to take a biopsy of the kidney, it looked so abnormal she was afraid he might bleed to death. She closed him up without removing anything, and is going to do a CBC and test kidney function (I realize bloodwork is recommended pre-surgery, but it was not done). She is also going to test for ADV. Although he was kept separate, he was not quaranteened against something like this. Naturally, I'm terrified that I might have just royally f*'d up and exposed my other 15 to Aleutians. Kara Please don't tell me what I should have done. I know I screwed up, and I'm scared to death to find out just how badly. [Posted in FML issue 3870]