Message Number: SG9416 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: jtfernald@earthlink.net
Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 22:56:27 +0100 (BST)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Subject: High WBC/High fever
Message-ID: <2830150.1088978187035.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Sid, my 1 1/2 year old has been very sick for the last 8 days. On Monday t=
he 28th, when I got him in to a vet, he had a fever of 104.5 which I suspec=
t he had had for at least one day maybe two). She did tests which showed v=
ery elevated white blood cells (18000) but NOTHING else out of normal range=
s. She gave him an antibiotic injection and sent me home with oral amoxici=
lan and instructions to syringe feed. The next morning he was up to 106. =
She gave him a shot of ketoprofen which brought his fever down to 103.5 but=
roughly for the day and he was right back up to the high 105s by morning. =
Did the same thing Wednesday for treatment but he was no better and I was =
really getting concerned about his hydration, though the vet thought he was=
still ok. On Thursday I took him elsewhere for a second opinion and as a =
result, I found a vet I fell in love with. She spent 45 minutes with me g=
oing over test results and all possible scenarios like viral infection to c=
ancer to a possible reaction to the rabies vac he had at the beginning of J=
une (although it had been about 2 weeks from then until the fever started, =
she thinks it may have lowered his immune system) and the different treatme=
nt and diagnostics. She definitely wanted him on IV fluids and a different=
kind of antibiotic. She was so committed to his care that she even took h=
im home with her Thursday and Friday nights. At one point during the first=
night with her the fever got down as low as 103 then up to 104.5 the next =
morning and since then it has been cyclical between 104 and 105.7. The IV f=
luids were overdue in my opinion, and made a huge difference. He had prett=
y healthy poops almost within hours. He is not a happy or healthy guy and =
euthanasia was put on the table as a consideration. An option I don't want=
to consider since I have never had to make a decision like that before, an=
d I love this little guy so much, but if he is suffering at all... =
=
So, last night she took a chance and gave him a shot of prednisone and whil=
e it didn't really take the fever down much he perked up and actually showe=
d some interest on his own in the food bowl and water, though it didn't amo=
unt to much intake. So, as of today, she gave him another injection and ag=
ain he seemed much more alert and active, so we are giving him a few more d=
ays, hoping that the prednisone she sent me home with will make a differenc=
e. This is his first trip home in a couple of days, and unfortunately the =
clinic is closed Sunday and Monday so he is under my care unless an emergen=
cy hits, He has been holding at about 104 all day which is a subtle improv=
ement but an improvement none the less. =
The only additional info that I can give at this point is that all the bloo=
dwork numbers were within normal ranges except white blood cell count which=
was 18,000. The other numbers I can't remember and I don't have a copy. =
They did not indicate insulinoma, ECE or any other obvious things to rule o=
ut. He has general weakness in his legs but it is most like due to the pro=
longed fever and associated weakness. He does not eat or drink on his own, =
though he will lick ferretvite or water from your fingers. So all of his f=
eeding are forced syringe feedings. He doesn't like it but it gets down hi=
s throat. I have been going slow - about 30 minutes to complete a feeding =
so that he can rest a bit and now get distressed. Since we had him on the =
IV fluids he has been pooping regularly. They aren't bloody or tar-like bu=
t are pretty indicative of the a/d baby food gravy poops. He is pretty ins=
istent about using the little box in the corner and wobbles the six feet ov=
er to it rather than use the one in his temporary cage, and also prefers to=
sleep in the bottom drawer of the bureau and the vet said at this point, l=
et him be where he is comfortable. I took the drawer out so he doesn't hav=
e to climb up and exhaust himself. It is this sort of fighter behavior whi=
ch is giving me hope. =
I have noticed him grinding his teeth a bit more the last 24 hours but I un=
derstand that this is common when they are nauseous (side effect of the pre=
dnisone)? His fever over night was 103.7 at midnight, 104 at 3 am, 105.6 =
at 7:30, at 10am it was down a bit to 104.4 and it is currently (3pm) the s=
ame. He just ate again enthusiastically 20ccs which is his biggest meal in=
a sitting so far.
His meds: =
1/4 5mg prednisone tablet every 12 hours
1/8 1 mg sucralfate tablet 20 minutes before feeding but only 3x in 12hr p=
eriod
.25ml clavamox drops (62.5 mg/ml) every 12 hrs
and I just added 1/8 baby aspirin every 12 hrs
Incidentally I have two other ferrets who are totally fine.
Any info would be appreciated!
=
=
Send comments to Pam at pjdutche@email.unc.edu. Please note that this address is only useful for questions about the FHL archive. Questions about ferret health, or those intended for the FHL, should be sent to the Ferret Health List.