From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-04-02 00:17:00 UTC
Subject: Re: onion Q?
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Valkyrie " <MinatoNeshoba@i...>
wrote:
> Are ferrets affected by onions like dogs and cats with heinz body
> hemolytic anemia?
> I wondered because as much as I see Gerber mentioned. I'd rather
> use Beechnut if they are affected.
While Heinz bodies can be seen in any species when enough onion is
given, and of course cats are predisposed to the development of Heinz
bodies (precipitated denatured hemoglobin on the RBC cell membranes) -
I have never seen Heinz bodies on a ferret blood smear, nor does the
small amount of onion powder in Gerber's baby food appear to cause
any problem.
Ferrets do develop a immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, but right now,
little is definivitely known about it, and it does not appear to be
associated with the feeding of baby food - it is most often seen in
preciously healthy animals.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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