From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-11-05 23:11:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Adrenal Panel Results back (Mishka)
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., ferretgm@y... wrote:
> You all might remember that I posted a few weeks ago about Miska, a
5
> 1/2 y.o. male, whose blood tests showed non-regenerative anemia
with
> a hemoglobin level of 30.
>
> The vet was able to put together a sample from the blood she had
> left, and sent it in on the 16th - about 2 weeks after the original
> blood sample was taken. (I don't know if that matters) The
Tenessee
> panel results indicate that the only elevated hormone is estrogen,
> with is at 186 milimoles, where upper-normal is at 180 (according
to
> my vet).
>
> In the past few months, Mishka has lost fur in clumps all over his
> body (most apparent when he's wet). In the past two weeks, his
> remaining fur has coarsened considerably, and he has become much
more
> agressive with the girls again. Despite wolfing down baby food and
> nutrical twice a day for the last month, he hasn't gained any
> weight. He still weighs 2 3/4 lb, down from 4 lb in January.
>
> My vet is recommending epogen injections 2 -3 times a week, and
> lupron. It seems reasonable to me, and I think he would be more
> comfortable on the Lupron. Her hypothesis is that he may just have
> cyclicly overactive adrenal tissue. However, if this is so, then
why
> would he have the nonregenerative anemia at the same time as the
> fairly normal estrogen levels? Anyone have any comments?
Dear Melissa:
There is really no other explanation than adrenal disease for an
elevated estradiol level in a male ferret, and with the loss of hair,
the diagnosis can be made fairly readily.
I guess that I am a bit concerned about putting Mishka on lupron at
this point, even with the epogen. I don't think that we know whether
Lupron will help in cases of estrogen-associated anemia, and I am
concerned that the longer we delay surgery, the lower the hematocrit
may drop.
But I am ready and hopeful to be proven wrong on this one. Please
keep us posted on Mishka's progress.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM