Lainey to the Vet today (one of my ferrets)

Tink · 22-10-2009, 07:07 PM

She's going in at 3:30.
Some of you remember her strange gasping noises awhile back that me and her doctor's partner decided was allergies.
Well, it's back again and it seems worse this time.
Still eating and pooping but no play and sleeping a lot.
I don't see any nasal discharge but she sounds congested and is sneezing.
Also, me and K have had flulike symptoms this month. Ferrets can catch the flu. Here's an article: http://www.oregonlive.com/pets/index..._from_its.html
Another concern for me is this last diagnosis was not made by her regular doctor because she was out of town at the time. He's ferret knowledgable but I just don't have the same rapport with him as Dr. Monroe and I just think I'd feel better trusting what she has to say.
I love my vet, they say a post dated check is no problem.
I'll have to leave early. Last time there was crazy amounts of construction literally all around their office and I had to go goofy back ways and in circles and there was only this tiny area to get into their parking lot.
I'll let you guys know how it goes. I just have this gut feeling I shouldn't just keep saying it's allergies and get her checked by her own doctor for sure.

Mags · 22-10-2009, 07:26 PM

How worrying for you Tink

I hope the vet can help Lainey, good luck, let us know how you get on....

Tink · 22-10-2009, 07:30 PM

Thanks. Hopefully we can nip it in the bud so to speak and I can get a more definite answer about her condition. I'm just not sure about the whole "allergies" explanation.

Elaine · 22-10-2009, 07:42 PM

Hope all goes well for Lainey and it's not too much to worry about xxx

Tink · 22-10-2009, 07:43 PM

Thank you! If anything, it'll give me peace of mind to know she was seen by her regular doctor this time. I'll trust what she says. That woman is one in a million.

dandysmom · 22-10-2009, 07:55 PM

Fingers crossed here it won't be serious; you'll get some peace of mind having her regular doctor check her out.

angieh · 22-10-2009, 07:56 PM

I do hope you get a good explanation from the vet you trust Tink. Fingers crossed for Lainey that it's easily treatable.

calismum · 22-10-2009, 09:14 PM

Hope you feel more positive once she's been to her 'own' vet.

Tink · 23-10-2009, 02:37 AM

Hi, guys. Just got back.
Upon examining Lainey, the vet did think her lymph nodes seemed swollen. She had no fever and weighed almost the same as last time.
As we were talking, Lainey had an episode. Dr. Monroe said it was possible it is "reverse sneezing" but she'd hate to just send me home chalking it up to that wihout doing more investigation.
She ordered bloodwork and a chest xray. They had to gas her (put her under) to do it so I just hung out and got coffee for an hour and a half or so while waiting for all that to be done.
When I came back, I started getting nervous because Dr. Monroe was very busy but she asked me to wait till we had a chance to speak alone. Of course, the longer I waited the more my mind started to wonder.
Chest xrays look great. Heart and lungs look normal and no congestion.
While she was out (and not so hard to handle..she's a diva

), the Doc examined her lymph nodes more closely and says that it's very easy to think her lymph nodes are enlarged but what it comes down to is she has a lot of tissue on her neck and a thicker neck than usual (probably b/c she's a private bred). She said it's very deceiving though and even she was fooled at first. So those are alright after all too.
The bloodwork doesn't come back till tomorrow morning. She will call me and we will go from there on what to do next.
I told her about how Lainey is part angora and angoras are known to have hair in nasal passageways where there normally isn't and that might be a theory and she is going to research it further for me tonight

Then we talked about the latest ferret issues in the world today and gabbed about veterinary ethics. I'll say it again, I love this woman.
Then after we got home I set Lainey loose and showed her the surprise Mama got her while she was getting tested...a whole set of jingle balls she loves to stash so much!

Tink · 23-10-2009, 06:28 AM

So I did some research of my own tonight among fellow angora owners. Apparently they have heard of unexplainable cough/sneeze/gasping/asthma symptoms and a lot of their kids are on PediaPred.
I'm a bit discouraged by that. I'm very...."Let's avoid steroids unless we absolutely have to go that route" for reasons I've seen with Tigger (my cat who passed away) and even with humans (K for instance with all the infections and steroids compromising his immune system).
I know I haven't gotten the blood back yet but I plan to bring this up with Dr. Monroe tomorrow after we discuss those.
I'm just kind of thinking out loud for the moment and preparing myself if I need to make a decision about steroids.
On one hand, I don't want her to be miserable hacking on and off intermittently. On the other, do I really want those dreaded things in my baby's system (even at a low dose?). I've had such bad experiences...
*Pondering*
Dr. Monroe is SO LUCKY I don't have her home number

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