Last night, my friend came online and asked me if she should be concerned that her 8-9 month old ferret lost a ton of weight. I told her no, he was just losing his baby pudge.
5 minutes later, she came on and showed me a picture, asking if I have had experience with swollen lymph nodes.
This made me go "Oh sht, lymphosarcoma". The thing is... he is 8-9 months old. Lymphoma is something that happens to ferrets over 4 years old, it is rare it happens in ferrets that are 2 years old (called juvenile lymphoma). When she first told me... he was dooking and wardancing around, eating perfectly fine. 10 minutes later, he couldn't eat hard food. Lymphosarcoma in ferrets that are 2 years old goes FAST... younger=faster. This ferret is 8-9 MONTHS. She just rescued him 5 months ago. He has not yet seen his first birthday. His life is just beginning. Last night, I had to tell my friend that her ferret will likely be dead by the end of the month.
She took him to the vet today. Most likely confirmed lymphoma. It could also be a) a tumor (which is not any better, it means cancer) or b) an absess (also not good... as it is VERY hard and will not be able to be aspirated unless it magically goes soft overnight). The vet is VERY MUCH leaning towards Lymphoma, and doubts it is anything else.
She took him home tonight. Tomorrow at 6am, he will be gone to the vet to be sedated, to try and aspirate to see if it is a soft absess. Surgery is not an option. It is too close to his windpipe, and if she COULD do it, his chance of survival would only be 2%. It is very likely that tomorrow, my friend will be leaving the vet office minus a ferret.
I am holding my ferrets that much closer tonight. They are all getting extra snuggles and kisses. 2 days ago, there was NOTHING wrong with this ferret. Tomorrow, he may be dead. All I keep thinking is "**** you Marshalls. **** you."
Can I have any vibes to help my friend stay strong? Make his passing easy, if that is the way it needs to go. Vibes if it will magically become a soft absess would be superb, but neither of us have high hopes. Vibes for her other ferret, Mushu, to be alright would be much appreciated, too. We are not sure how he will do as a single.
I told her to ask about Prednisone. It may only buy him a week, but it is a week with him she would not otherwise have. I know how heartbreaking it is for your ferret to be fine one day, and at deaths doorstep the next.
5 minutes later, she came on and showed me a picture, asking if I have had experience with swollen lymph nodes.
This made me go "Oh sht, lymphosarcoma". The thing is... he is 8-9 months old. Lymphoma is something that happens to ferrets over 4 years old, it is rare it happens in ferrets that are 2 years old (called juvenile lymphoma). When she first told me... he was dooking and wardancing around, eating perfectly fine. 10 minutes later, he couldn't eat hard food. Lymphosarcoma in ferrets that are 2 years old goes FAST... younger=faster. This ferret is 8-9 MONTHS. She just rescued him 5 months ago. He has not yet seen his first birthday. His life is just beginning. Last night, I had to tell my friend that her ferret will likely be dead by the end of the month.
She took him to the vet today. Most likely confirmed lymphoma. It could also be a) a tumor (which is not any better, it means cancer) or b) an absess (also not good... as it is VERY hard and will not be able to be aspirated unless it magically goes soft overnight). The vet is VERY MUCH leaning towards Lymphoma, and doubts it is anything else.
She took him home tonight. Tomorrow at 6am, he will be gone to the vet to be sedated, to try and aspirate to see if it is a soft absess. Surgery is not an option. It is too close to his windpipe, and if she COULD do it, his chance of survival would only be 2%. It is very likely that tomorrow, my friend will be leaving the vet office minus a ferret.
I am holding my ferrets that much closer tonight. They are all getting extra snuggles and kisses. 2 days ago, there was NOTHING wrong with this ferret. Tomorrow, he may be dead. All I keep thinking is "**** you Marshalls. **** you."
Can I have any vibes to help my friend stay strong? Make his passing easy, if that is the way it needs to go. Vibes if it will magically become a soft absess would be superb, but neither of us have high hopes. Vibes for her other ferret, Mushu, to be alright would be much appreciated, too. We are not sure how he will do as a single.
I told her to ask about Prednisone. It may only buy him a week, but it is a week with him she would not otherwise have. I know how heartbreaking it is for your ferret to be fine one day, and at deaths doorstep the next.