Surgery Page
On May 7th, 2008, Shickadance & his brother joined the family at Zoo`s Ferret Sanctuary.
Shickadance had the largest chordoma we have ever seen! We can`t understand how anyone could allow this sweet boy to suffer, the way he did. He was lugging around quite a ball & chain...
I sat in on Shickadance`s surgery, this morning (May 12th, 2008)
Below are some pre- surgery & post surgery pictures.
WARNING: They are fascinating, but GROSS.
I will post one of his tail tomorrow, too, after the pressure bandage comes off.
Love, Zoo
Masked down & shaved for surgery.
Look at the size of this thing!
This weighed exactly one and a half ounces.
Another view of the chordoma. (Look at how tiny in diameter the Tail was, by contrast.)
It was too big for the speciman jar. (and the former owner let him carry that heavy burden for God knows how long...Sad...)
This is Shickadance, only eight hours post-surgery. He has already eaten several ounces of kibble, and now he is enjoying a platter of chicken baby food.
He is feeling better than he did before the surgery, and is WALKING faster, TOO!!!!
He is feeling better than he did before the surgery, and is WALKING faster, TOO!!!!
This is how much of the tail is left. Notice without the heavy weight, it goes up in the AIR, a bit!
The red thing you see is the pressure bandage, secured by vet wrap.
He is not bothering it, but his cagemate Angel, tried to chomp on it---so they will be separated tonight, in cages right next to each other.
The red thing you see is the pressure bandage, secured by vet wrap.
He is not bothering it, but his cagemate Angel, tried to chomp on it---so they will be separated tonight, in cages right next to each other.
UPDATE: May 13th, 2008
I was able to remove the pressure bandage today, but the gauze is stuck in some dried blood. I have cut it as closely as possible, and think I`ll wait another day or two to remove it. (The blood supply to that sucker was great. I don`t want to rock the boat, & cause bleeding!)
Look at the way Shickadance is clear up on his feet now, & exploring, like a real ferret! He moves very quickly now!!!
I will continue to post progress pictures!
Love, Zoo
I was able to remove the pressure bandage today, but the gauze is stuck in some dried blood. I have cut it as closely as possible, and think I`ll wait another day or two to remove it. (The blood supply to that sucker was great. I don`t want to rock the boat, & cause bleeding!)
Look at the way Shickadance is clear up on his feet now, & exploring, like a real ferret! He moves very quickly now!!!
I will continue to post progress pictures!
Love, Zoo
I`m so happy for him!
More later!
More later!
Update: May 16th, 2008
We have received our copy of the histo report on the growth. It was a chondroma sarcoma. Cancerous, but removed with a clean margin. The lab says the surgery was curative.
We have received our copy of the histo report on the growth. It was a chondroma sarcoma. Cancerous, but removed with a clean margin. The lab says the surgery was curative.