From:
Teena Austin
Date: 2001-05-26 23:51:00 UTC
Subject: Re: elevated calcium
Hello Dr. Williams,
The ferret Dr. Garro is referring to is mine; see my post #3976 for
background on symptoms and onset.
In addition to calcium of 16.2 as previously mentioned, other
findings out of the reference range in the chemistry panel were:
AST 223 (46-118 normal)
CK 3443 (98-564)
Albumin 3.2 (3.4-4.8)
Total Protein 6.6 (4.3-6.0)
Globulin 3.4 (0.2-2.4)
BUN 68 (10-45)
Cholesterol 273 (96-249)
Glucose 97 (120-144)
Potassium 3.1 (3.9-5.5)
CBC results out of ranges were:
WBC 7.1 (3.5-7.0)
Neutrophil Seg 72 (31-57)
Eosinophil 2 (0-1)
If this suggests anything to you other than lymphosarcoma, I'd be
interested to know. The onset seemed so sudden and she has
deteriorated so rapidly...
Thanks,
Teena Austin
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Bruce Williams, DVM" <williams@e...>
wrote:
> --- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., dori garro <moosemom_us@y...> wrote:
> > hello again,
> >
> > did some bloodwork on a ferret this week; 4 year old
> > female with a large mass on the right side of the
> > abdomen; was supposed to be a pre-surgical panel.
> > the calcium was about 16 (normal up to 9.2 or so).
> > differentials???? do lymphoma and other neoplasias
> > leap to the top of the list as in other species?
> > lymphocyte count was normal and was about 30% of the
> > total white blood cell count. this does not rule out
> > lymphoma, but.....
> >
> > rob garro d.v.m.
>
>
> Dear Rob,
>
> Hypercalcemia is generally not very common in ferrets. the
> hypercalcemia of malignancy of course has to be considered, and
> lymphoma certainly can do it. Abdominal masses are most commonly
> adrenal in origin, and I don't think I have ever seen one of those
> result in hypercalcemia.
>
> I think that actually renal disease is probably a more common
cause,
> but of cause that would show up in other tests as well.
>
> A normal lymphocyte count with about 30% of the differential sounds
> pretty textbook to me. I'd be intersted in hearing what the biopsy
> shows on this ferret, and if the calcium drops after removal....
>
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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