From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-03-08 16:39:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Sundance's blood test results....can anyone make sense
of these....
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Ryan and Tracy Lant" <lant@a...>
wrote:
> Dr Williams Wrote:
> <However, there is an indication of chronic inflammatory disease
here,
> likely in the GI tract. This is a common finding in middle aged and
> older ferrets.
>
> <snip>
>
> Of course without a biopsy, it is difficult to confirm chronic
inflammation
> of the bowel in ferrets, and of course, we can't identify the
cause. I see
> this extremely commonly, and I generally don't recommend biopsy
until the
> values are much farther off the beaten track.>
>
> Dr. Williams....and others:
>
> Is there anything I can be doing for Sundance to help out her
system in
> terms of diet, supplements, or anything else? And should I ask my
vet for a
> round of anti-biotics to see if this helps the enlarged spleen or
is there
> anything else I can use to shrink the spleen....such as extra water
or
> something....I am drawing at straws here. I just want to help her
feel
> better.
Without external evidence of GI dysfunction such as diarrhea,
vomiting, etc., I am hesitant to start treating her for a GI problem
simply because there is evidence of marginal GI inflammation. If we
were to treat every ferret with similar values, we would quickly all
get rich and retire.
Regarding the spleen - very large spleens are candidates for removal
and these ferrets often perk up considerably. Refresh my memory -
did you vet call the spleen enlarged, large, or huge?
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP
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