From:
MC
Date: 2002-07-16 15:12:56 UTC
Subject: Red/Pink Paws and Nose
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3D3437F8.31A54B9B@ProgressiveSystemsInc.org>
This seems to have escaped all the vets' attention last week, so I will re-post my concerns and questions:
My 8 year old boy, Snorkle, had a blocked Urethra and underwent a light anesthetization to insert a catheter and stitches to hold it in place. He spent 3 days at the vet, in an incubator, set to 75 degrees as his body temp was down.
He was given Clavamox as a precautionary antibiotic regimen against infection. (No infection found in the urine, just crystals)
It was determined that the swollen prostate was NOT the cause of the blocked urethra. (He IS adrenal and started a 4 month Lupron treatment yesterday)
Blood tests showed a blood sugar reading, initially, of 85 and on the second day of his stay, it lowered down to 65, presenting a possible case of insulinoma. Because of his weakened condition, the vet decided to hold off on a Pred treatment until his body stabilized and another blood test could be performed...maybe in 2-3 weeks.
All other blood tests showed normal, and his 'kidney readings' showed stress but good/normal and presented no indications of a shut down.
Now to my concerns:
On the second day of his vet stay, and when I brought him home, and for a day after that, his paw pads, nose, belly, and tail were bright red. The vet tech attributed that to the 75 degree incubator. If so, why did it persist for another 24 hours after his return home into an air conditioned environment?
It was stated here, in the only response to my original query, that low blood sugar can cause that condition.
Do you vets concur? Or do you have other thoughts on the 'red paw pad' syndrome?
(I should state now that he is back to his old, devilish self..although there was a bit of a fight getting him to accept Hills' Prescription Diet s/d, which the vet put him on for two months to help dissolve the crystals in his bladder. Then, she wishes to supplement his normal diet with added Vitamin C to help prevent their formation in the future.)
Thanks!
MC