From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-05-07 13:07:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Bloodwork and IBD
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Jen & Andre" <jen.andre@i...> wrote:
> I just had my vet check Fig's serum lipase and it came back 1685
U/L (normal range is 0-200). Fig is 2 and after recovering from ECE
she lost a lot of strength in her hind legs and has stools that range
from soft-normal to diarrhea to birdseed. She has some days that are
better than others, but at present she just drags her hind end along
when she tries to move and cannot scratch herself.
>
> Rads and all other blood values were normal (sorry, glucose and TP
were slightly elevated).
> I would appreciate it if someone could tell me how to interpret the
lipase value (and her other symptoms) as it relates to IBD.
Dear Jen:
Lipase values over 500 have been anecdotally associated with IBD (but
no hard facts have been shown). This value plus the recurrent
birdseed stools and the history of ECE give a very strong suspicion
of IBD. Hindleg weakness is likely just the result of muscle
wasting, as animals with IBD are not in a good nutritional plane and
often cannibalize their own muscles as they absorb protein poorly
from their diet.
At this point, I would go with a 2-week trial of low-dose prednisone
to see what happens and would still stay away from kibbled diets.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM