From:
sunni_321@yahoo.com
Date: 2003-07-23 00:43:40 UTC
Subject: Allergy/EE/IBD
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4554597.1058921020851.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I've written to this board several times about my 2 yo MF female, Madeline. She's suffered with swollen lymph nodes and stomach problems.
This all started May 1. She had an avid microchip put in. At the pre-op exam, the swollen lymph nodes were discovered. May 17th she had a two nodes removed for biospy (they came back as Reactive Hyperplasiaa). May 19th, I took her to the vet as she wasn't perking up from the surgery. She had a fever of 104.6 and was starting with the stomach problems.
After 7 weeks treatment with Pepto, Pepcid AC, Amoxi, and Baytril, her nodes were down and she was having firm, non-discolored poops. A week without medicine and she had a bad day of diarreah (x2)/vomiting(x1). One day of Pepto got her back on track. Another week goes by and her nodes are starting to go back up. Not as bad as before but, definitely not normal (neck and front under arms, I can't really tell well with back legs as she is overweight and I'm not sure what I'm feeling).
So, Friday I took her to the ferret vet in Madison, WI (the one from find a vet on sonic-weasel). She examed Maddie and performed a CBC (among other tests). She tenatively diagnosed an allery and we waited for the test results. They came back and sure enough, the portion of white blood cells that are eosinophils(?) was high, pointing to an allergy or Eosinophillic Enteritis. Treatment is Prednisone, starting out with 0.25CC twice a day(I know it should be cc/ml, but I don't know off hand), and if that works, bringing it down gradually, to find the lowest dosage that still works. The tummy troubles (bacteria/blood in stools; diarreah) she thought were an ulcer, a response to the stress of being sick. She has Sucralfate, Amoxi, and Biaxin for that.
Of course, I always think of these things after I'm done talking to the vet, but, I do have some questions, if anyone can help.
1) The Sucralfate, Amoxicillin, and Biaxin - I assume this is different, but similar to the Pepto, Pepcid, Amoxi, and Baytril combo she was on. Does she keep taking this? Will the Prednisone make that unneccesary? I hope so long term, but, I mean for right now. Should I finish the 14 day treatment and then just drop down to only Prednisone? Btw, she hasn't had bad poops since Saturday....
2) At http://www.ferret-universe.com, it says Eosinophillic Enteritis is an allergic reaction to a parasite. Maddie has had many fecal smears/cultures and has never had a parasite. I mentioned that, which kind of cleared that up, unless the parasite had migrated, like... to her liver, then a fecal test wouldn't show eggs/worms in the stool. The whole parasite thing doesn't sound very likely in Maddie's case, but, do we need to go looking for them? Is there a test for that? Or, should we just see if the Prednisone can take care of it?
3) My vet here has always questioned if her distemper shot started this whole ordeal (Shots were on 4/14, lymph nodes first discovered swollen on 5/1). Does the fact that her white blood cells (eosinophils) are high point to that as well? Should precautions be taken with her next distemper shot?
4) Before visiting the vet in Madison, Maddie problem was considered IBD-like. Will this "go away" with the allergy treatment (prednisone). Do we halt further investigation on IBD? I guess what I mean is, is the allergy causing the IBD-like symptoms or are the IBD-like symptoms acutally the ulcer?
Sorry this was so lengthy, I wanted to try and tell every aspect to make the whole thing clear.
Thank you!
End of ferrethealth Digest
***********************************