From:
williamsb@comcast.net
Date: 2002-07-14 01:59:38 UTC
Subject: RE: kidney results and post-surgery hyperglycemia
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <31854684.1026611978020.JavaMail.root@scandium>
The day after surgery his glucose was 355, and that night his urine
> continued to have high glucose evident. Today is day 3, and he seems to
> be feeling pretty "puny". Was just wondering if I am supposed to do anything
> to combat the high glucose at this point (insulin?) or just wait to see
> if it resolves itself in a few days? I am assuming he shouldn't have his
> pred, either
Yes, no pred - it'll just make it higher. I woiuld wait several more days, and take a glucose level on day 5 and 7. If either hit 500, then we should start some insulin. If it levels off to around 300 or so, I think we can continue to monitor without insulin.
> Question #2:
> I have had two ferrets recently that have had normal Buns and high creatinine
> levels. Bun 27, creat 1.8, and the 2nd ferret had a Bun of 29, creat 1.9.
> I thought it usually is the other way around. What does it mean when the
> creat is elevated but not the Bun? Is it early kidney disease, dehydration?
High creatinines are good indicators of renal damage, if lab error can be ruled out (usually a second confirmatory test is required.) I would like to see a urine specific gravity as well. The low BUNs suggest that the body is compensating well at this point, but I do get concerned by creatinines over 1 to 1.5, because in ferrets with end-stage renal disease, about the highest that you will ever see is a 3, as compared to other species which often go much higher than that.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM