Hi All,

My 7 year old ferret was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma, although not actually tested via biopsy.
Was mainly from ultra sound and X-ray detecting areas that could be tumours. Also over the past 2 months he has
developed small pea size lumps under his tummy skin, so assume these are tumours?

We were given prednisolone 1mg tablets to give twice per day, however we decided to only give a 1/2 mg 
and even with that his behaviour and energy levels has decreased quite a lot with hind legs becoming much 
weaker that before meds.

As in the title, he over the past 4-6 weeks, developed yellow coloured nails, and the past few weeks have all (on the back)
broken off down to the 'quick', but not bled. The front are now starting to break off and he is obviously unable to walk very well due to this too.

So a few things i am slightly confused about: 1 - shouldn't the meds actually boost him not bring him down, and 2. what might be causing the nails to completely break off...  the web search cam up with nothing, but we can't be the only ones? 


PS - he did loose a fair bit of weight due to dehydration, so went on a drip for a weekend, but now eats and drinks as normally as ever - but his activity level is way down, so want to know - should we persist with meds?

Thank you

Hi, I'm sorry you're going thru this.  I've been there a couple times..
Why did you decide to cut the pred in half?  If you've done some research, you know lymphoma is not curable and the pred can help prolong life by keeping tumors in check for a time.  Eventually you get to a point that you have to decide for your ferret when enough is enough. 
There could be somethig else going on besides lymphoma.  It often occurs with other cancers. I haven't had any ferrets lose teir nails, sorry

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Thanks for your message

Well he just seemed better off it than on,  and has been tested for Adrenal disease and several blood counts. And nothing else showed up.

What would you recommend as a dosage per day ? and would you expect side effect from this really?

Regards

Tristan

Have you had a blood glucose test?  The only thing I can think of that could cause nails to yellow is either a serious nutrition problem or a fungal infection.  
Over time, pred can cause the belly to swell.  I have had one ferret survive just over a year after lymphoma diagnosis, and the day I decided to take him to get put to sleep he passed in my arms.

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Hi

Yes full blood counts several times with no sign of anything serious.

It just seems odd as soon as I started giving prednisone, he became strange.

But I will keep it up at 1mg per day to se if it has any positive effect.

Any more advice appreciated :)

I don't want to discourage you , but 7 is kind of old. We lost our Pandora last month to an aggressive case of lymphoma.  She was a chub, and always kinda drug her belly around, but she suddenly lost the use of her back legs.  I felt her up and found a huge tumor in her groin that was not felt a week before.  We had to put her down a few days later because she couldn't even get to her food dish.  Pandy was 5 1/2

IMG_2449 by unclejoe1158, on Flickr

IMG_2801 by unclejoe1158, on Flickr

A shelter mom i know who is also a nurse told us that she's had a lot of success bombarding lymphoma with high doses of pred.  I can't tell you what the doses were but it was probably 10x what vets prescribe.

Wish you the best.  PLease keep us updated.  

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Wow that a huge tumor - my ferrets bumps are like a small pea under his tummy that was shaved for an ultra sound, so easy to see.

I decided to give him 1mg per day from now on to see what happens, the Vet did say that it should be 1mg minimum to have any effect, so giving it  try.

Should I expect some improvement (if your past experience is anything to go by?). usually how many days for any sign of change or not?

he is eating, drinking, and going to the toilet pretty normally though. But not eating as much as before I started Pred. 

He seems to love the bold chicken I give him, so that is his treat and the best ay I find to give his meds crushed and mixed in. I am trying to give after he has eaten a fair bit of dry kibble to ensure his tummy is full.  

Thx!

I didn't see a big change in Larry's behavior, but he was pretty well along when I got him, and pretty mellow as well.  He was early in my ferenting career.  he already had a big belly which I thought was from eating cheap cat food.  his original owner thought he was a girl.
At 7 years old, do what you can to keep him comfortable.  When you can't do that anymore, consider letting him go.

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD