ikyrian: HiNaBN's {...} (Default)
ikyrian ([personal profile] ikyrian) wrote2009-03-18 11:25 pm

Ferret Dilemma

Okay guys, I have a dilemma.

As some may vaguely remember, I took one of my ferrets in for adrenal surgery last June that Did Not Go Well. At. All. Though I got two stories at the time, it looks like they're sticking with the one where he had a severe delayed allergic reaction either to the Bupronex (?) and ketamine, aka the anesthesia.

Now it looks like he has a rather large cystic mass either on his spleen or his prostate. Dr. C wasn't sure which it was attached to even after the ultra sound. The only way to find out definitively is to do exploratory surgery. As I'm sure you can imagine, I'm not thrilled with this prospect considering what happened the last time. Thus, my dilemma.

If it's the prostate cyst, it can be managed by Lupron and antibiotics (which is a struggle and a half to get into him). It sucks but it's not life threatening. On the other hand, if it's on his spleen and it ruptures, he'll bleed out. Eastern Exotics is a half hour away if I floor it in the middle of the night. The nearest emergency vet clinic doesn't see ferrets all that often.

My dilemma is this - do I do the surgery knowing that he almost didn't make it last time or do I just keep on keeping on and hope it isn't on his spleen? What would you do?



All of these pictures were probably taken in 2007.

Face Off

Vincent and Bear face off with Storm the cat. Vincent's on the left, Bear's on the right.

Hanging Out

Vincent and Bear hanging out in the cage, not ready to get up yet.

At the Watering Hole

Vincent and Bear having a moment at the watering hole.

[identity profile] karweenie.livejournal.com 2009-03-19 07:50 pm (UTC)(link)
No matter what you decide, can't you take him somewhere other than this Vet? Considering what happened last time, I wouldn't trust them a whole lot.

They are SO cute!!

[identity profile] ikyrian.livejournal.com 2009-03-20 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
I've decided to get a second opinion at a different vet in the area that specializes in ferrets/exotics. Yeah, I trust the vet, but I don't know. I trusted the vet last time too...

Aren't they!? I love them!