Ferret...Roxy!

Question
Hi Adrienne...not a question...just wanted to let you know how i made out with Roxy today. Took your advice...went to a Different Vet today. Got total blood workup and x-rays.     Roxy has a mass the size of a cherry in her abdomin. Blood work shows no blood sugar problems...but the real results come in tomorrow.  If she has no raging infection, they want to put her on Pregnazone. Sure i spelled that wrong. Hoping to shrink the mass and make her more comfortable. He thought the spinal cord was being touched, therefore causing the hind leg weakness. She has feeling and quite a bit of muscle in them. She has no spine or other injury.  She isnt in terrible spirits...still eating today and drinking...and Trying to play but not real successful. I hope we can do something to make her feel better and give us a little more time with her!  I was awake all night with worry. Is there a ferret pain med. that is OK to stay on for comfort? She got a shot today...but that was just for todays comfort. She is asleep now and seems sound.    Thank you so much for your thoughts and caring...makes me feel better!    Leslie (Fl)

Answer
Hi again Leslie,

Thank you so much for letting me know what happened after we corresponded! I am glad you found a vet willing to do the correct testing but I am sorry for the result. There is pain medication for your ferret but one of them cannot be used with the steriod, prednisone, because it can cause a painful stomach ulcer and the other commonly used pain med., torbutrol, will cause extreme drowsiness. The predinsone with relieve alot of the pain plus ferrets seem to have a pretty high pain threshold. If the pain gets bad, that will be the time to make the decision whether or not to get the stronger pain medication or make the ultimate decision.

You can feel free to e-mail me personally at amortimer@aol.com if you want to talk some more without going through this website. Good luck and give your baby lots of love!

Sincerley,
Adrienne Mortimer