From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-03-07 17:49:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Kif is gone.
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Jaclyn" <jaclynv@e...> wrote:
> I'll post later more later. You don't have to answer any questions
> on the leukemia. Kif didn't make it to the bone marrow biopsy.
> Thanks.
> Jaclyn
Dear Jaclyn:
I am sorry for your loss of Kif. I am sure that Kif understood and
appreciated all of your efforts for him, including that airplane
visit.
One very interesting finding for the list, and I'm not really sure
how to explain this one, except perhaps lab error.
On the 1st you posted that Kif's WBC was 11,000 and 87% neutrophils -
at this time, we felt that it likely represented an inflammatory or
infectious condition. Today, only 4 days later, it has skyrocketed
to 80,000 with 90% lymphs. That is a phenomenal change from pretty
much out of nowhere.
Regardless of that change, I think that you can rest assured that
treatment options for Kif were relatively non-existent, if that is of
any comfort. An 80K white count is extremely rare in ferrets, and
indicates acute leukemia. A similar process is going on in most
organs, as these cells leave the bloodstream. With leukemia of this
severity, it almost always invades the bone marrow, resulting in a
crowding out of the normal marrow elements to make room for the
proliferating lymphocytes, and in spite of all treatments, the anemia
is rarely if ever reversed.
Kif is a phenomenal case with the rapidity of onset, and I'm afraid
not even the prospet of an experiemental therapy would be of great
benefit.
You did a great job with him, and have nothing to regret. All
ferrets should have been so well loved.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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