From:
sukiec@optonline.com
Date: 2003-03-05 05:45:02 UTC
Subject: RE: Pepper!
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <807095.1046843102381.JavaMail.root@scandium>
Rick, have you tired going to Dr. Bruce William's site., specifically to the article at URL
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/Clin_Path/ClinPath.html
where you will find the section that begins:
>Probably the most common misinterpretation that I see on a routine
>basis is in the area of hepatic enzymes. Remember, that the ferret,
>being by nature an obligate carnivore, has an extremely short digestive >tract, and requires meals as often as every four to six hours. Should >food not be available, it possesses the ability to quickly mobilize >peripheral fat stores in order to meet energy requirements. When this >physiologic mechanism is activated, the liver is literally flooded with fat, >which results in hepatocellular swelling which may be marked. The >result of this swelling is the leakage of membrane enzymes such as >alanine aminotransferase, and as the hepatocellular swelling increases, >occlusion of bile canaliculi occurs, resulting, over time, in elevation of
>alkaline phosphatase.
>In conjunction with this physiologic change, elevations of ALT up to >800 mg/dl can be seen, and alkaline phosphatase up to approximately
>100 mg/dl...
I think that section will help you. It is possible that the individual was failing due to inability to utilize the food taken in because of the severe runs caused by the ECE so a break in which the IV improved hydration and allowed nutrients to be given while by-passing the intestine may have helped in several ways, perhaps even by giving the intestines enough of a break to help reduce irritation.
I am not a vet, but I think that this scenario has to be considered until we all know more.