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Please note: I am not a ferret expert, and I did not write, nor did I
independently verify, all the information in this file. I have done
my best to include only accurate and useful information, but I cannot
guarantee that what is contained in this file, whether written by me
or by one of the contributors, is correct, or even that following the
advice herein won't be harmful to you or your ferret in some way. For
advice from an expert, you may wish to consult one of several books
available, or, especially in the case of a suspected medical problem,
a veterinarian who is familiar with the treatment of ferrets.
FERRET MEDICAL FAQ -- LYMPHOSARCOMA
Last modified: 31 Oct 94
Version: 1.2
------------------------------
Subject: CONTENTS
*** Lymphosarcoma ***
(1) Lymphosarcoma (Midwest Hospital)
(2) Lymphoma (Dr. Erdman)
(3) Lymphosarcoma treatment
(4) Ferret Medical FAQ copyright and redistribution information
------------------------------
Subject: (1) Lymphosarcoma (Midwest Hospital)
Taken from Ferret Senior Citizens and their Special Needs
Midwest Bird and Exotic Animal Hospital
Lymphosarcoma
This cancer is not restricted to older ferrets. It also may
occur in young animals, but is usually rapidly fatal. In the older
pet, it tends to hide unnoticed, with no symptoms for months or years,
then suddenly appear. It is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which
is part of the body's immune system. The cause is unknown, but
research is currently being done on a possible viral origin.
Signs vary, and as already stated, many animals have no outward
signs for a long period. Disease in these animals may be detected by
abnormalities in the complete blood cell count. Noticeable changes in
other animals may include any of the following signs: swollen lymph
nodes, enlarged spleen (there are many causes of enlarged spleens),
wasting, lethargy, poor appetite, difficulty breathing, chronic
diarrhea or hind leg weakness.
The diagnosis is from a combination of a complete blood cell
count and either a biopsy of a lymph node or a bone marrow biopsy.
X-rays may be helpful in cases where the cancer is in the chest.
Treatment is achieved through chemotherapy, the details of which can
be discussed with your veterinarian. We have had a 75% success rate
with chemotherapy with life being prolonged for 6 months to 3 years
post treatment. Most ferrets tolerate the therapy very well and have
few side effects. Even those cases that are not good chemotherapy
candidates, can be helped to continue a quality life with the use of
steroids.
------------------------------
Subject: (2) Lymphoma (Dr. Erdman)
Roger McMillian forwarded the following information, written by Dr.
Susan Erdman:
(Dr. Susan Erdman was kind enough to visit the June meeting of the
GCFA [Greater Chicago Ferret Association] and she gave an excellent
slide presentation on the work she and Dr. James Fox are doing on
ferret lymphomas at M.I.T.)
Lymphoma is a very common cancer in ferrets, comprising about 20% of
all reported neoplasms. It is probably the most common tumor in young
ferrets. Lymphomas frequently occur in combination with pancreatic
and adrenal tumors in older ferrets, and it is probably more common
than we realize. Occasionally related or cohabitating ferrets will
develop lymphoma which is also observed in lymphomas in cats with
Feline Leukemia Virus. Not surprisingly, viruses have also been
suspected of causing lymphoma in ferrets. Although no causal virus has
been identified, it is probably best to avoid introducing new ferrets
into cohabitating groups of ferrets which have many lymphomas.
Manifestations of malignant lymphoma vary with the age of the
ferret. Young ferrets usually become suddenly ill. Some owners report
a ferret that seemed normal one day and was discovered very weak the
next day. Ferrets may have difficulty breathing because of a large
chest tumor. Some develop a very large spleen that fills the
abdomen. Others get very large lymph nodes around the throat, armpits
and knees.
Tissue aspirates and biopsies are needed to confirm lymphoma because
sometimes a node that appears to be enlarged is actually a fat pad in
a ferret with a healthy appetite. Ferrets with internal involvement
may have diarrhea or difficulty urinating or defecating. Radiographs
usually reveal the characteristic soft tissue swellings of in the
chest and abdomen.
Although a few young ferrets respond well to chemotherapy, the
prognosis for long term survival and well-being is poor, especially in
ferrets which are less that one year of age upon diagnosis. Getting an
early diagnosis may increase life expectancy slightly with much
supportive care and chemotherapy. A young ferret should be playful and
have a good appetite, so if your ferret has a change of appetite or
attitude, contact your veterinarian for a thorough exam. Older
ferrets have more variable disease. Some develop sudden disease like
that of younger ferrets. Others have a prolonged illness that begins
with periods of weakness, poor appetite and weight loss that may go on
for several years.
The earliest changes appear to occur in the spleen and blood, and may
be detectable by your veterinarian using palpation of an enlarged
spleen or interpretation of changes in the blood counts. A sample of
the affected tissue is necessary to confirm the disease. You
veterinarian and pathologist can evaluate the tissue cell distribution
and cell division that help predict whether the tumor will be rapidly
progressive.
Many of these older ferrets do very well for many years following the
diagnosis of lymphoma with minimal chemotherapy. Some drugs such as
steroids, which are used therapeutically for beta cell tumors of the
pancreas may provide some chemotherapeutic benefit for lymphoma as
well. Older ferrets should be examined regularly by a veterinarian,
and any ferret demonstrating recurrent poor appetite or lethargy
should be examined more frequently. Early diagnosis of disease gives a
much better prognosis and allows you to make informed decisions about
the health management decisions of all of your ferrets.
One final point: an enlarged spleen is common with lymphoma in
ferrets, but has been associated with many other conditions in ferrets
as well. Even certain anesthetics can cause a big spleen. Because
ferret spleens can fluctuate in size over days or weeks, an enlarged
spleen should only be removed if it poses an immediate threat to
health such as splenic rupture, or confirmed splenic lymphoma or other
cancer. [IFNS]
------------------------------
Subject: (3) Lymphosarcoma treatment
Katie Fritz sent the following report on the treatment protocol one of
her ferrets received for lymphosarcoma:
Thought the list folks would be interested in the treatment protocol,
which follows below. Bandit is being treated by Dr. K. Ann Jeglum of
West Chester, PA. Her phone is 215-696-1585. She told Jeff that she
has treated a number of ferrets with this protocol and apparently most
have gone into remission. She says we should see no side effects from
this first treatment, and so far we have not.
I talked with Dr. Karen Rosenthal at the Animal Medical Center, who
oversaw Bandit's surgical treatment there, and she says this is the
same treatment they use for ferret lympho at AMC, although she says
they do blood testing (CBC) every 1-2 weeks. She says their best case
went 8 months on this treatment.
The language is mostly Greek to me, but you can pass it on to your
vets. I know our vet student-in-residence, Jenny Au, will be
interested (If she hasn't already seen this). Anyway, here it is (I
know it says Feline but this is what they are using):
FELINE LYMPHOMA CHEMOTHERAPY PROTOCOL
K. Ann Jeglum, V.M.D.
Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Oncology
This protocol has been shown to be effective in the multicentric,
alimentary and renal forms of feline lymphoma (Jeglum, JAVMA, 1987).
Several modifications have been made since publica