From:
sindahise@yahoo.com
Date: 2005-06-10 02:35:29 UTC
Subject: Re: Epogen question
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8461448.1118371205500.JavaMail.nobody@magnesium.smartgroups.com>
Thanks and thank you for answer.
I have finally given up and despite serious transportation issues today I started to
call vets in Seattle (5 hours away) until I got far enough up the "food chain" (on
recommendations from vet-to-vet-to-vet) that I found a vet who specialized ONLY
in ferrets and who will be seeing her next week (Lord willing!) and basically we are
going with the following plan:
(1) She assumes looking at the records and talking to me that the sudden blood
drop in the PCV from 22 to 15 in a week MIGHT be caused by stress ulcers and has
had me start her on an ulcer regieme (pred/pepto/pepcid/amoxi). Despite not
seeing gross blood in Teegre's stools (which I haven't) she said microscopic
bleeding could account for some blood loss. (I have started her on this.)
(2) Despite the fact that the (R) adrenal looked healthy during surgery when the (L)
was removed it could still be pumping out excess estrogen (as was mentioned up-
thread) and yes she wanted a Lupron shot immediately as you've recommended as
well. I was going to rush her to Seattle tomorrow as I couldn't locate a local source
but at the last minute tonight FINALLY found one local vet with some and got her a
shot tonight. (So she has had Lupron finally - I have asked my local vet for this 3
times since the surgery and 3 times I've been told that it is USELESS as it does
NOTHING for estrogen-over production! )
I will start her back on Melatonin - I had her on it previously but took her off it as
my local vet is VERY, VERY, VERY aggressively against the use of it in ferrets and had
produced endless arguments about why I shouldn't be using it particularly on
Teegre. She'd finally convinced me I likely wasn't doing her any good and might be
doing her harm.
My local vet has me using Iron tablets (crushed) which I can then mix with the baby
food I'm feeding her. Is this apt to be a problem? She's getting an est (50-75 of
Ferrous Sulfate daily by rough estimate.)
Despite her low blood levels she is eating well -- her appetite is good. Energy is
down.
Again, thank you for answering!
Linda K & Teegre
Author wrote:
> Hi Linda,
> Yes, Epogen and Procrit are the same drug. They are
> made by the same company then marketed by 2 other
> companies. Yes, Epogen or Procrit are used to stimulate
> the bone marrow to make red blood cells.
> If the anemia is from estrogen toxicity to the bone marrow then
> you have to lower the estrogen level by using Lupron and/or
> Arimidex also. Likewise melatonin should be used to help
> lower the estrogen level and to stimulate the bone marrow.
> Hill's a/d or baby food can be used to increase the appetite,
> and pet tinic can be used to raise the iron and B vitamin levels.
> Hope that helps,
> Jerry Murray, DVM