From:
Russell Prater
Date: 2001-06-21 00:02:00 UTC
Subject: Dr. Williams, please.
> "Bruce Williams, DVM" wrote:
>
> > --- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., Russell Prater <russellprater@w...>
> > wrote:
> > I have a 3.5 yrs old male Marshall's ferret who weighs 3.6 lbs. He had
> > ECE at 1 yr old and since has had an enlarged spleen. At his 3 yr
> > check-up, his blood glucose level was 64. I have monitored his BG level
> > monthly since and it has climbed slightly to 74. He shows no signs of
> > any illness and has never displayed any of the classic symptoms of
> > insulinoma. He romps violently with my 2.5 yr old pair and seems to feel
> > very well. I'm thinking he may be harboring a low grade helicobacter
> > infection which Dr. Williams has said he often finds associated with
> > enlarged spleen, but don't know if that would have anything to do with
> > the low BG. We will have another visit with his vet next month and would
> > appreciate any suggestions of test or treatments we should explore at
> > that time.
>
> Dear Russell:
>
> The BG is in the grey area of 60-80, in which I don't rush to surgery
> (especially if there are no clinical signs.) This is one where an
> insulin level may be of help - but without any clinical signs, even
> if the insulin level is elevated, I would probably hold off on
> surgery, based on his absence of symptoms and violent romping.
>
> A big spleen at this point is also probably not a cause for surgery,
> unless it is huge - then we may want to consider surgery to prevent a
> rupture.
>
> Next month, lets run the BG and insulin. If the BG is low and the
> insulin is high, then we start to watch closely for any signs of
> hypoglycemia. When we see them (and we probably will), then its time
> for the surgery, at which time we pull the pancreatic tumor and the
> spleen at the same time.
>
> With kindest regards,
>
> Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
>
Thank you, Dr. Williams. I was wondering about something I read on your
website about splenomegaly. You said that on autopsy splenomegaly of no
apparent cause was nearly always accompanied by helicobacter mustelae. I
was wondering if it would be a good idea to give Booger two weeks of
Amoxi and Biaxcin and see if killing his bugs might reduce his spleen.
Was also wondering about the need to do a needle biopsy of that spleen.
--
Russ, Booger, Bonnie & Clyde
russellprater@w...
URA Redneck if you take the entire day off to get your teeth cleaned.