Message Number: SG9420 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Sue Liszewski"
Date: 2004-07-05 04:16:03 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] High WBC/High fever
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <BAY15-F358ZNWDabKT20002ed40@hotmail.com>

Don;t use aspirin with prednisolone you will create a bleeding ulcer if you
do. Aspirin as in cats also may not be a good thing. Keep the fever below
105 if it gets to 106 or higher then it is a problem. The fever is his
immune system trying to fight infection. Fever is not always bad and if he
is eating some and a bit brighter that is good. You may need to add a
second antibiotic. I would not consider Euthanasia at this stage. Keep
working it could take several days before you get the fever to stay down. I
usu kick up the treatment use immune system boosters etc. Also use alcohol
wipes on the bottoms of the feet and fluid therapy is vital to keep temp
down so if you end up at the ER get some fluids and learn how to at least
give them sub Q. It sounds like he is fighting a very nasty infection it
is just a question of finding out where it coming from. Also the teeth
grinding is usu a sign of pain or nausea and at this stage not from the pred
probably from an ulcer in the stomach. Keep us informed on what happens and
just keep working to solve the problem. Take x rays to rule out other sites
of infection etc and watch for sneezing etc which could indicate an upper
respiratory infection. Best of luck to you.

Dr. Sue

>From: jtfernald@earthlink.net
>Reply-To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>Subject: [ferrethealth] High WBC/High fever
>Date: Sun, 4 Jul 2004 22:56:27 +0100 (BST)
>
>Sid, my 1 1/2 year old has been very sick for the last 8 days. On Monday
>the 28th, when I got him in to a vet, he had a fever of 104.5 which I
>suspect he had had for at least one day maybe two). She did tests which
>showed very elevated white blood cells (18000) but NOTHING else out of
>normal ranges. She gave him an antibiotic injection and sent me home with
>oral amoxicilan 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 going over test results and all possible scenarios like
>viral infection to cancer to a possible reaction to the rabies vac he had
>at the beginning of June (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 treatment 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 him 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 fluids were overdue in my opinion, and made a
>huge difference. He had pretty 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, and 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
>while it didn't really take the fever down much he perked up and actually
>showed some interest on his own in the food bowl and water, though it
>didn't amount to much intake. So, as of today, she gave him another
>injection and again he seemed much more alert and active, so we are giving
>him a few more days, hoping that the prednisone she sent me home with will
>make a difference. 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 emergency hits, He has been holding at about 104 all day which
>is a subtle improvement but an improvement none the less.
>
>The only additional info that I can give at this point is that all the
>bloodwork 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 out. He has general weakness in his legs but it is most like due to
>the prolonged 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 feeding are forced syringe feedings. He doesn't like it but it gets
>down his 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 but are pretty indicative of the a/d baby food gravy poops. He is
>pretty insistent about using the little box in the corner and wobbles the
>six feet over 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, let him be where he is comfortable. I took the drawer out so
>he doesn't have to climb up and exhaust himself. It is this sort of
>fighter behavior which is giving me hope.
>
>I have noticed him grinding his teeth a bit more the last 24 hours but I
>understand that this is common when they are nauseous (side effect of the
>prednisone)? 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 same. 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
>period
>.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!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>--
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>
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