From:
Jacqueline Snyder
Date: 2001-09-28 10:04:00 UTC
Subject: Re:anemia
Several years ago we got a shelter ferret that had been raised on
low-quality cat chow. With us, he's had better quality ferret chow and
'Bob's Chicken Gravy' (a pureed mixture of cooked whole chicken and extra
fat, basically). He's done pretty well, although he has always seemed 'not
quite right'.
Blood tests last year didn't show anything abnormal except some anemia.
Treatment for that was small amounts (don't remember the dosage) of
pediatric iron supplements. FYI, if you use iron supplements, expect to
have problems getting the stuff in the ferret.
Last month this ferret seemed unwell, although there wasn't anything I
could specifically point to. I think I felt that he was slightly lethargic
and slightly pale nosed and I felt his fur was thinner than it should
be...like I said, pretty non specific. I suspected early adrenal disease.
The vet agreed with adrenal disease and did bloodwork--insulinoma showed
up, as well. During surgery to remove the adrenal gland and the pancreatic
tumor, the vet found a huge hairball in the ferret's stomach.
It's hard to say what was causing the anemia, with this mishmash of
diseases, but I suspect it was related to one of them.
Best of luck,
Jacqueline