From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-06-18 00:07:50 UTC
Subject: RE: How do you know if its JL?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5047292.1055894870413.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Agree 100% with Sukie. First of all, you have not mentioned the age of this ferret - JL is primarily a disease of ferrets under the age of 2.
But the most important test in JL is a good series of X-rays of the chest and abdomen. Without enlargement of the liver, spleen, or thymus, the diagnosis is very hasty. Hepatic enzyme elevation (especially ALT and alkaline phosphatase) will happen over time in any sick ferret. Elevated lymphocytes and globulins suggest chronic smouldering infection. A good longstanding GI inflammatory disease will show all of the signs that you are describing (although to make that diagnosis on such limited information would also be a very hasty thing to do as well.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
Author wrote:
> My vet is telling me my ferret has JL. She has used two blood tests and chemestries to determine this. My ferret has lymphocites at 63%, globulin 3.45, and two enzymes that indicate there's something going on with the liver. Could she be jumping the gun? I suggested she take a fecal sample to rule out any sort of infection (I'm dropping my ferret off on Friday for this). Does anyone else have any ideas? I only wonder because my other ferret had something similiar wrong with her (lethargy, dropping weight) and then she took some heavy duty antibiotics for another problem (gunk on her tail). She got better immediately.
> Any suggestions are welcome,
> Katherine