From:
Mary
Date: 2002-12-09 15:23:33 UTC
Subject: Musings re liver disease
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <2DA92A21-0B8A-11D7-BC9A-000393AB6D96@attbi.com>
this may not be news, or significant or related to ferrets but it got
me thinking- this is just some stuff i got from reading about liver
disease in dogs.
most liver problems are primarily caused by:
bacterial infections
toxins - (I suppose that could be either ingested or a result of a
different interal problem throwing off toxins)
Trauma - It didn't say whether that would be short term or
long term, or rather could a fall from 3 years ago result
in something much later? Or would it be just recent
tramua?.
Clots - ? what causes clots?
Leptospirosis - this I found interesting because my ferrets go outside
a lot where there are lots of mice and chipmunks.
Giesela has actually killed a couple of chipmunks (no flames
please, she got up the downspout before i knew what was
happening - besides my neighbor puts out sticky traps for
them and i think she's actually a more humane killer)
these all can lead to bile duct blockage or a sudden onset of hepatitis.
Secondary causes
IBD - which can lead to bile duct blockage - ferrets seem to have
lots of ibd.
pancreatitis
intestinal obstruction - again, ferrets
gallstones
liver infection (I would think that would be the same as a
bacterial infection listed under primary?)
parasites (cause fluid)
Kidney disease (cause fluid)
So there are some interesting possiblilites here I think that relate to
ferrets liver that aren't a cancer.
There were a couple of other diseases listed I thought interesting
especially in light of giesela's curled up foot that the doctor said
was neurological. - but one is usually only found in specific breeds of
dogs (can't remember which disease)
Macrovascular dysplasia - can affect the gastrointestinal tract,
urinary tract and central nervous system resulting from build up of
ammonia crystals
Hepatatic Encepholpathy or HE
Central Nervous Illness caused by liver problems, again i think
something to do with ammonia.
Treatment for both of these is neomycin, metronidozale and lactulose.
Neomycin kills ammonia causing bacteria.
also there is chronic acute hepatitis - i didn't get exactly what this
was other than chronic liver problem.
For the causes listed as Primary and secondary, generally speaking the
treatment is the same - antiobiotics. Metronidozale and amoxi together
was what was usually listed.
Actigel is used to get bile flowing
My vet didn't want to try the neomycin or actigel for some reason. i'm
not sure whether i should push it.
also - apparently sam-e is being used with some success in dogs but its
pretty new
One last quote that is probably not related but i thought interesting
"liver disease is considered to be a cause for diabetes insipidus of
neprogenic origin - occurs because kidneys can't respond to
antidiuretic hormones produced by the body due to interference from
another problem".
Ferrets don't seem prone to Diabetes but when i see "Antidiuretic",
ferrets seem to have problems with fluid, and "hormones" in one
sentence it caught my eye.
Homeopathic treatments for the liver were: milk thistle, tumeric, b,
e and c vitamens.
I'd be interested in a vet's opinion in swapping the metronidozale for
a different antiobiotic since they hate it so much - what is specific
about this drug vs. others that make it good for the type of bacterial
infections that cause liver problems?
I would like to have input on sources and doses for milk thistle if
anyone has any.
Thank you.
Mary
End of ferrethealth Digest
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