From:
moosemom_us
Date: 2002-03-03 23:04:00 UTC
Subject: crystals in a male ferret
looking for a little help on a case i became involved with;
i originally sent it to a vet list; i have tried to explain some of
the terms; hoping someone out there has had a case with their own
ferrets, or one of the vets on the list can help shed some light on
this one.
one of the er doctors at work saw a 3 year old ferret
the other day for weight loss (perceived by the owners
- only 1 ounce according to the scale) and straining
in the litter box -- during urination and/or bowel
movements (i.e. owner not exactly sure).
we had seen this guy about a year ago with the same
signs - were getting ready to pass a urinary catheter
because his bladder was big, but he urinated while we
were setting up anesthesia -- crystalluria and hematuria/pyuria
(crystals in the urine and red and white blood cells in the urine)
(in house); no stones on radiographs at that time; he was put on
antibiotics and the owners
were to get him onto a ferret diet (was on a cat/kitten food). this
is the first
we've seen from them since.
there are no apparent signs of adrenal disease --
cannot rule out prostatomegaly.
the ferret is now on kaytee ferret diet.
vet ran bloodwork and a urine sample that was sent to
the lab; urine was obtained by cystocentesis (used a needle and
syringe to get the sample, by going thru the body and bladder wall).
bloodwork showed a mild increase in globulins and
proteins (a change that i see very commonly and don't
get to excited about unless it is a bit more dramatic and there are
some clinical signs suggesting a problem), a blood
sugar of about 75, a slightly elevated ast, and a
slightly elevated bun (creatinine was low end of
normal).
the urine showed rbc's and wbc's; about 10 per hpf
(sorry don't have the reports in front of me), a spec.
gravity of 1.028 and 25 to 50 struvite crystals.
questions/comments:
1. what do you feed a ferret that has struvite
crystals? how will they do on c/d-s??
the crystals may have been formed during the hours
after cysto, but given his history, i'm feeling like
they are real. (frustrating part is i never saw the ferret this time
around -- was gone by the time i got in that morning -- just reported
the lab results as the er doc would be off for a few days.)
2. assuming it is real, anyone ever used other
supplements to decrease crystals?
2.5 or do you look at this and say: go find the adrenal tumor.
3. is this secondary to uti as in dogs, or is it more
spontaneous as in cats?
4. yes, i will monitor his blood glucose, for anyone
wondering.
5. cost is a bit of a concern; i will try to get rads or ultrasound
done to evaluate the urinary tract if it proves to be needed.
6. any other thoughts are welcome.
thanks
rob garro, dvm
lurker on the list for the most part.