From:
"Sue Liszewski"
Date: 2003-11-20 04:02:06 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <Law12-F104r8gPAAIwp00021148@hotmail.com>
Welll I haven't seen it in ferrets but have in dogs and cats. Sometimes
Autoimmune illnesses are triggered by a vaccination and you need to manage
it as an autoimmune disease. Certain antibiotics and other medications have
been implicatied in the same thing. The responce to the pred is supportive.
If this is an AIHA then some autoimmune testing can be done (if they
haven't been on pred for the moment). The problem with these diseases in
general is that you can often get a good response to treatment, but each
relapse makes the chances of recovery harder. do your best and maybe even
try a transfusion and start over. This may give you a benefit to resolve
the problem. Hope this helps and best of luck to you.
Dr. Sue
>From: buddyboyblue@msn.com
>Reply-To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>Subject: [ferrethealth] Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia
>Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2003 06:52:56 +0000 (GMT)
>
>In August, my rescued male ferret (approx 2 years old) received his 2
>distemper vaccines. Approximately 2 weeks after the last injection, he
>rapidly became ill. My ferret vet said his physical exam was normal, with
>the exeption of the usual signs and sypmtoms of anemia & a PCV of 10. He
>was successfully treated over the next 3 weeks with supportive therapy and
>prednisolone, and dexamethasone. At 3 weeks, we tried to wean him of the
>pred, but he began to deteriorate. So, we boosted him back on to the .2cc
>pred twice a day for five days, working our way back to .2cc every other
>day for a month. When we weaned him off the pred for the 2nd time, he
>rapidly deteriorated again. Now, he is critically ill, with a PCV of 10.
>We have started supportive therapy again, given a dexamethasone injection,
>and oral pred .2cc twice a day. Does anyone have any idea what is
>happening to my ferret? Could it be a response to the Purevax?
>If so, is there a treatment protocol for such a reaction? What is the
>expected outcome should this be a reaction to the vaccine, or some other
>unknown disease process. If I am to humanely advocate for this animal, I
>need to make informed choices.
>
>Thanks for your help,
>Debbie
>
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>
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