From:
magik87@dashmail.net
Date: 2003-01-13 06:02:43 UTC
Subject: RE: red blood cells count dangersly low & itchy
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <355595.1042437763850.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Author wrote:
> He said it could be Cancer of the spleen or bone marrow and their isn't much hope if thats what it is
> They did however have a ferret last year who's red blood count was as low if not lower then mine and he got better with Baytril(enrofloxcin) and pet tinic. Shadow had been on it now for three days and I don't see any improvment the only thing that got better is she isn't scratching herself so violenty - but I think thats just because she is so weak. I have to give her water through a suringe because she is not drinking enough. I am going back to the vet on Monday I think we are going to have to put her down. Can anyone help is there any hope????
<Note to moderators: I sent this privately as well to reach dlds24 before Monday morning.>
I know what you are going through. Our Leo was in the same situation last May at 5 months old. If you can work out finances with your vet, don't give up. Get a transfusion for your baby to get her feeling better. You will be amazed at how much different she will act if her PCV gets up even to 25-30%. Your vet should be able to arrange for donor ferrets. If the vet thinks she's stable enough after a day or so, get the bone marrow biopsy done like Dr. Williams said. That is the only way to figure out what is wrong with your baby. If it is cancer, then make the decision to let her go. My vet said that a year or younger with cancer is incurable. But your little Shadow might be affected with a disease like Leo, where her immune system is destroying her red cells.
What worked for Leo was Prednisolone, Hy-Vite and epoetin (Epogen/Procrit) shots (once we figured out what the problem was). Also, make sure she is eating. Get Science Diet a/d from your vet and syringe feed her every 4-6 hours along with the water. You have to keep her protein levels up. If you e-mail me privately I can give you the info for my vet hospital so maybe your doctor can consult with the doctors who have been there for Leo through every up and down.
I understand that not everyone has the finances to make it through stuff like this. Do what you can to get your vet to work with you. They love animals as much as you do. Don't give up unless the tests and the doctors and Shadow say that it is time to.
Tanya.