From:
Christopher
Date: 2001-03-02 08:03:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Chemical Breath?
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., tazyd@w... wrote:
> Just a quick question, Has anyone ever experienced a chemical odor
> such as nail polish remover coming from there fuzzies breath? My
> Tazy has lymphosarcoma and for the last week or so I've been
> smelling this odor coming from his breath!!!!
<snip>
Definitely sounds like one of the symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis.
DKA presents with elevated concentrations of blood sugar, reduced
concentrations of bicarbonate in the blood and the presence of
ketones in the urine. This can lead to diabetic coma. Definitely
contact your veterinarian.
Basicly it sounds like Tazy doesn't have enough insulin to use the
sugar in his blood stream. So a blood glucose level is going to show
as very high. His body still needs energy, so it's burning up his fat
stores and a side effect of this is the ketones which build up in his
blood stream and spill over into his urine. The ketones that have
built up are what cause the smell. If there is any connection to the
lymphosarcoma, one of the vets will have to tell us.
Hugs to Tazy! Keep us posted.
Christopher & Crew