From:
Sheila Sykes
Date: 2002-01-11 07:42:00 UTC
Subject: Adrenal diesease or liver infection ?
To whom it may concern:
Below is a list of health / medical developments for
our now nearly 8 month old soon to be castrated male
ferret. Wed greatly appreciate a second vet opinion
(suspect adrenal disease or liver re-infection) and
info on new developments for adrenal disease testing.
Oct. 8, 2001 Diagnosis: Liver infection. Symptoms:
Dribbling significant amounts of urine after
urination. Urination frequency normal. Amount of
urine and water drunken seemed a little greater than
it should be. Above seen since 7 weeks of age. 2
weeks before diagnosis scratching significantly more
than usual, and 2-3 times it was very difficult to
wake him from sleep at which time he seemed nearly
unresponsive. On 2 occasions (on 2 successive days,
both upon waking from sleeping after newly introduced
1/2 hour outdoor walks) his entire body shivered, and
his head and all legs shook / tremored very visibly
for about 7-10 seconds. Again he was very difficult
to wake, very lethargic and somewhat unresponsive.
All times he recovered quickly and acted normally
thereafter. Medical testing: Blood samples after a
4-hour fast revealed a normal glucose level (at 129.9
mg/dl with 94-207 being normal) (checking for
insulinoma). The ALKP tested abnormally high at 158
U/L (9-84 being normal). Urine sample was abnormal
with elevated liver secretions. Appeared sensitive
when liver was palpitated. Lymph nodes were of normal
size and all else upon visual / health inspection
appeared normal. Treated with Synulox (Amoxycillin
with clavid acid) + liver aid helpers, for 3 weeks,
until Nov. 2, and outdoor walks were discontinued.
Symptoms improved after 3 days of treatment and all
symptoms stayed improved. Scratching amounts,
drinking and amounts of urine all seemed normal. He
no longer shivered abnormally, he woke easily, but he
still occasionally dribbles after urinating. (Oct. 16,
2001 Urine sample results improved.) After Nov. 2
he acted normally after several walks. December 6,
2001 urine tests and physical exam appeared normal.
Dec. 20 -Dec. 31, 2001 No walks given, but 2-3 times
after waking, his body shivered for several seconds.
Jan. 1 Jan. 7: on 2 occasions, when woken up from
sleep, after 3 outdoor walks every other day, his body
shivered and legs tremored for 30 seconds (but he woke
easily). Scratching slightly more than usual and
sometimes dribbles after urinating. Hes licking my
skin more than usual and now occasionally lightly
bites when licking. On several occasions the licking
and biting became excessive, almost frenzied, and was
difficult to deter. Hes usually gentle towards us.
He and his brothers guard hair continues (since we
acquired them) to get very slightly more sparse in
very small patches on the tops of his feet. Getting
increasingly dominant over and attempts to mate with
his soon to be castrated brother. All else seems
normal. Both ferrets shiver just before walks outside
from normal excitement.
Does the return of body shivering, slowly increasing
slight foot hair sparseness, slight body scratching
increase, increased dominance over his brother, and
frenzied licking and biting spells, indicate adrenal
disease development, a liver re-infection (or never
fully-resolved liver infection), both, or a behavioral
development because of increasing sexual maturity?
(Can we rule out insulinoma because of a normal
fasting blood glucose level?). We saw most of these
symptoms in the early stages of our last ferrets
adrenal and insulinoma disease development, but he was
3 years old at that time and castrated when a cub. Is
8 months old too early for adrenal disease symptoms or
for adrenal disease? Have any new clinical tests been
developed recently for positive adrenal disease
diagnosis (other than just symptomatic diagnosis)? We
only know of a blood test that can be sent to
Tennessee for testing, but distance may be a problem
as we live in Germany. Other than another blood test
for liver infection, what can we have our vet test for
now? Due for castration soon, is there testing that
can be done while he is under anesthesia?
Thank you so much for your consideration,
Sheila Sykes-Gatz and Volker Gatz
sheilasykes@h...
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