From:
Melissa Litwicki
Date: 2001-10-25 14:33:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Need vet advice: re: elevated red blood cell count
Mike Janke wrote:
> I'm not a vet so just throwing out my understanding of those
> results... isn't that the long way of saying she has a PCV (packed
> cell volume) of 72%?
Yes, sorry; I have little experience with the technical terms, and that's
how the vet described it to me.
> I've never heard of a ferret thowing up a hairball, though entirely
> possible I suppose. Still, they're not like cats and I would say
> that regular vomiting is a sign of something serious. Possibly a
> large hairball than cannot be vomited.
She is quite accomplished at bringing hairballs back up, and has been
doing so for years. She typically starts vomiting a week or two before
the hairball comes up, but I keep a close eye on her litter boxes to make
sure she's having regular bowel movements. The largest she's coughed up
was tic-tac sized, which seems large... However, I'm reluctant to put her
through surgery until I can tell she's suffering a true blockage.
Otherwise, she'd be at the vet every two months for another removal. :P
The reason she has hairballs is because she's extra-itchy. I've tried
numerous things, but will try the suggestions in the archive before
investigating adrenal problems (of which there have been no other
symptoms).
Bruce Williams wrote:
> Mike's theory of dehydration has merit, [...]
I will make sure she's not dehydrated when we go in for a followup CBC,
and talk to my vet about the unlikely possibility of polycythemia vera.
Many thanks,
Melissa and Puff