From:
dr_bruce_williams
Date: 2002-06-14 22:05:00 UTC
Subject: Re: pred causing increase in liver levels?
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., Moxie <moxieent@t...> wrote:
> My only experience with pred was with Chance. Prior to pancreas
> surgery, his liver (whatever you call it) were elevated. My vet
> attributed it to the pred. We took him off pred after surgery, and
when
> I had blood work done again to see what was wrong with him, the
liver
> was in the normal range again
Dogs and cats on long term lo-dose or short term hi-dose prednisone
develop a liver problem called steroid hepatopathy. However, this
really isn't a documented problem in ferrets.
Elevated levels of certain enzymes in the liver of ferrets, names ALT
and alkaline phosphatase are very commonly elevated in sick ferrets
due to a lack or eating and mobilization of fat stores to provide
energy. This fat tends to travel to the liver in large amounts,
causing the liver cells to swell with fat globules, and resulting in
elevation of these enzymes.
When the animal starts eating well again (normally when it gets over
whatever illness is causing it to not eat) the cells shrink, and
enzyme levels will slowly return to normal. This is often attributed
to the direct affect of some therapy, but probably occurs on its own
unrelated to any particular drug.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM