I did surgery on one that had gallbladder obstruction and we didn't remove it
we opened it cleaned it out and flushed the ducts and were successful. We went
in thinking it could be cancer. This ferret improved instantaneously after
surgery and attitude and activity. We kept him on Actigal (Urisodioyl) after
that to prevent recurrance since we didn't know what caused it. He lived to be
9years old (surgery done when he was 3) and it was the insulinoma that got him
then.

His sister also made it to 9. We had done adrenelectomy/insulinoma
surgery/furball surgery all at the same time when she was 6 and at 8 she went
icteric (with high Bilirubin levels) we took her to surgery her liver was a
mess. We removed the accessory lobe and biopsy came back hepatic adenocarcinoma
and despite this poor prognosis with the supplements mentioned previously she
lived another year.

So there is hope, Best of luck to you.

Dr. Sue
TLC First Animal Hospital
Chicago, IL 60631

--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Lucie Darkes" <ldarkes@...> wrote:
>
> Hi Jeff,
>
> I'm so sorry to hear this about Possum. My Jessie had a blocked gall
> bladder, which raised her liver enzymes a couple years back. I don't recall
> orange urine but she had significant pain, refused eating.wouldn't even take
> ferretone. And her stools turned very pale in color. She did have an
> ultrasound and the gall bladder was found to be full due to the blockage. I
> was told that in a cat or dog, they would simply do surgery to remove the
> gall bladder but the surgery is much more difficult in ferrets. Instead we
> treated her with Baytril, Amoxicillin and Ursidiol. She improved very
> slowly over time and her liver enzymes eventually came down. We have kept
> her on the Ursidiol to keep liver stable. She is actually back on the
> Baytril at this time as well due to other issues. I hope this is somewhat
> helpful. Wishing the best to you and Possum!
>
>
>
> Lucie
>
>
>
> @-"-@
>
> (=^ ' ^ =)
>
> o00 -\o/- 00o
>
>
>
> _____
> On Behalf Of innerharmony
> Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 10:52 PM
> To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [ferrethealth] Bilirubin Levels Very Elevated
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> We had to rush Possum to the vet today. In less than 24 hours he went from
> being seemingly 'normal' in every way to being in extreme distress.
> <SNIP>
>