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Post by keawearascal on May 31, 2010 23:02:28 GMT -5
My beautiful 6 y.o baby boy recently grew back all his hair! I was ecstatic! He was running up the stairs and all around, fit as can be, doing his crazy ferret boy dance. He suddenly started acting much different. He would run up the stairs but than lay down and just want cuddles and tummy rubs. He only rarely had much interest in playing if we didn't instigate it. We rushed him to the vet, who said he was fine but had a spleen score of 10. They did a complete exam and nothing is wrong but a gigantic spleen taking up his entire belly and wrapping around his organs. His weight is fine, his eating is fine, everything is 100% except his spleen, which they say just happens. I even put napkins down every day in the corner on the steps he always pees and poos in to moniter his urine amount, color, and smell, and dissect his poo with a toothpick near daily to make sure it's normal.They actually said he was extraordinarily healthy despite the spleen. they should see him when it wasn't swollen! It cannot be removed due to the fact he has a bleeding disorder and almost died from his adrenalectomy a couple years ago, but what else can I do? Maybe special massage techniques or herbs. he does love his tummy gently rubbed. This happened over a month ago but I was hoping it would go away. It hasn't. This isn't right-he's gone through SO much and he deserves to live out his golden years having all the fun he can handle. One thought I had was that it happened almost exactly when the temp rose and we went through the same thing with him last summer. I'm thinking of doing an experiment with keeping the house temp super low for a few weeks to see if it helps. Any thoughts?
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Post by mustelidmusk on Jun 1, 2010 0:19:37 GMT -5
If his spleen is really large, do NOT keep feeling it or try massage, spleens can rupture!!! Aside from that tidbit of information, we have very little understanding about splenomegaly in ferrets. Many believe it may be caused by a smoldering infection (which may be i the spleen itself). My vet would probably prescribe antibiotics and/or colloidal silver. Colloidal Silver is somewhat controversial since it's a heavy metal....I've used it on my first two ferrets, and it did help shrink their spleens a bit. Below is a post from the Ferret Health list - message YG653. The post is from Gary Holowicki: :The only thing I've found dependably shrinking ferret spleens is 500ppm colloidal silver, oral, 1-3cc/day. They usually lick it off the dropper, and I offer it to mine daily. When they've had enough it's interesting, they usually shake their heads like it's bitter all of a sudden. I only use and recommend the product from the Silver wings co., as I know it's a true colloidal suspension, not a silver salt. ......... Results is usually in 2-3 weeks, reduction to less than 1/2 size."
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Post by Heather on Jun 1, 2010 1:30:20 GMT -5
Please...listen to Jennifer regarding the message of the spleen. It can rupture and a ferret will bleed out in a very short time. Give the CS a try, truthfully you have nothing to loose. Does it work, on the short term? it is considered similar to an antibiotic, so it might. Your vet may also consider antibiotics but if not then give the CS a try. I don't want you to think that this must be this, and I hate raise this horrible possibility but you should be made aware of it anyway. Especially if you cannot do surgery. I hope, more than anything it's not. My little Mischief had this horrible ugly, huge spleen that actually impeded his motion but he wasn't in pain. I, too didn't have the option of a spleenectomy. Mischief was over 10 yrs of age and in poor health, this was just another part of his failing health. He was on antibiotics and we hoped that this would help him. One day, I could find neither Napoleon or Mischief....Mischief.. well, that wasn't unusual but Napoleon, well he was a baby and active. I found both of them in one of the sleep boxes. Napoleon wrapped around little Mischief, trying to keep him warm. Unfortunately, that huge spleen was made that way by the huge cancerous tumour that was growing in there. It had ruptured and little Mischief had bled out. There was nothing that could be done and Mischief just never even woke up. I left Napoleon with his little friend to clean and nuzzle. This is when I found out that ferrets, not only grieve they cry. Eventually, Ghenghis, Lady "B" and Attila came and got Napoleon to play. I will hope that your little boy doesn't have this problem, I don't know how common this is, Mischief is the only one that I've had with a spleen like this. A healing candle is lit for your little one, may it be just that enlarged spleen that sometimes happens with older ferrets. Just be very careful handling him and treat him gently. ciao
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Post by keawearascal on Jun 1, 2010 2:52:19 GMT -5
When he was checked out they did check for cancer. I'm not sure all of what they did but I know that his lymph nodes are normal, they said everything feels normal in there but the spleen, gum color is normal, heart and lungs sound great, pulse normal, temp normal, breathing normal , ect. I havn't tried massage or anything don't worry. My mom just noticed he likes his belly very, very gently rubbed. I'l be sure and tell her to knock it off. I was worried about rupture-I've been hovering over him making sure he dosen't fall or bang into anything. I already have to hover over his sister, as she is near blind, so I'm used to it. Ugh just when his hair grew back and everything looked so perfect...I'm going to put an air purifier near his cage to remove allergens and keep the house extra cool, because it does seem to be seasonal. And I'l be sure to ask his vet about the colloidal silver. They did say he was the typical case of a ferret having idiopathic enlargement-older, male, and he's already had his adrenal gland out. I do have a few theories about this- 1. An allergic responise to allergens, 2. A response to the change in seasons (and a nearly 10 degree jump in inside temp because my mom's bf is so cheap) 3. A delayed response to his adrenalectomy and the resulting infection in his incision 4. A late-onset complication of his blood disorder 5. Problems with his teeth- he absolutely will not allow brushing-I've tried everything 6. his "hygiene" issues. he's too fat to clean himself properly and ends up with "gunk" on his belly and beds. I clean him daily but I can only keep him so clean without making his skin raw 7. His blackhead covered tail 8. The 8-in-1 kibble. It's supposed to be the best kibble (feel more than free to correct me if I'm wrong) I wanted to switch them to raw, but Rascal has never had a normal immune system due to his blood disorder and it would be too risky as he wouldn't be able to handle the natural bacteria (I did a lot of research on this-I truly DID want to make the switch) Thank you so much for your help so far!
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Post by mustelidmusk on Jun 1, 2010 8:24:30 GMT -5
There are some other supportive supplements for the immune system such as Transfer Factors, colostrum, and reishi mushroom.
Any of these options may hekp.
-jennifer
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