From:
williamsdvm@comcast.net
Date: 2003-10-15 00:31:23 UTC
Subject: RE: Liver Problem? Advice Please.
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4051950.1066177883218.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Dear John:
Absolute values always better than "high", "low" or "normal". Tough to corroborate lack of infectious disease based on a single normal WBC count.
Hypoalbuminemia is commonly seen in animals with chronic inflammation of the GI tract, which is very common in middle aged to older animals. Albumin loss is rarely due to kidney or liver disease in ferrets.
Mildly elevated liver enzymes are extremely common in animals who have intermittent anorexia and mobilization of fat stores - I wouldn't diagnose liver disease in this case - it's a red herring.
I agree that hindlimb weakness is due to muscle mass loss.
Unfortunately, not enough info here to make any specific diagnosis, just a caution not to blame it on the liver, which is probably working fine.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
Author wrote:
> Current diagnosis. but does it mean?
> Can you help?
> CBC:
> Normal white count (no overwhelming sepsis, or infection, or active viral component, it appears)
> Is slightly anemic and the protein is LOW - albumin - low
> loss via the kidney or the liver or the intestines. OR not being produced by the liver adequately.
> May be malabsorption, or lack of production - I am VERY glad that miles is picking up weight. We did not do a urinalysis, but there is a possibility that the albumin is being lost there - although kidney enzymes are fine, making loss of protein through the kidney much less likely, and malabsorption or liver problems (lack of production) much MORE likely.
> Has marginally high liver enzymes, and a low albumin, phosphorous, calcium and BUN - all indicative of chronic liver problems.
> His glucose was NOT low, making the weakness in the rear end more likely due to loss of muscle mass and strength (or possibly aleutian's disease) likely.