From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2001-04-04 19:31:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: Two sick ferrets -- one urgent
question
Hi Lisa,
The globulin level is indeed a lot higher than normal,
so AD is a possibility. You can have an electrophoresis
done to see how much of this globulin is gammaglobulin.
If the gammaglobulin level is above 20%, then AD is likely.
Needless to say, you should also have an AD test done. Currently
there
are 2 tests. 1) United Vaccines' CEP test and 2) Avecon's
ELISA test. Both seem to be good tests.
As for the pancreas and hypoglycemia, was it a fasting sample
that produced the 70 test result (ie 3-4 hours without food)?
I use 70 as my "low enough to be an insulinoma" level. With
a nodule that showed up on the ultrasound, it makes me think it is
an insulinoma with mild signs at this time. I do not recommend
the insulin level test, but I would suggest a fasting glucose test
to check
again for hypoglycemia. Yes, he could have both AD and an
insulinoma,
and either one could cause the enlarged spleen. (Plus a few other
things
can cause an enlarged spleen.)
Pediapred is used for both AD and insulinoma, but you do want to
know
for sure if he is positive for AD and/or insulinoma before you start
him
on pred.
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM