From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-07-03 03:03:45 UTC
Subject: RE: Bone marrow/leukemia?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3262312.1120359825166.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> Author wrote:
> > Two different vets examined her and her lab work and said she has a bone marrow problem. Her white blood count is extremely low.
> Ferrets have white counts that are lower than what vets who are not familiar with >ferrets are accustomed to and can result in an erroneous diagnosis. I can't say >that's what's going on here, not knowing what the actual levels were at or the >experience of the vets you saw.
> You said she's pale... did they tell you what her packed cell volume was? There's >no flea problem, right?...
Just reinforcing what Mike said:
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/Clin_Path/ClinPath.html
which is by one of the most knowledgeable of ferret veterinary pathologists, Dr. Bruce Williams.
includes
>White blood cell counts in the ferret are often confusing to vets
>who are unfamiliar with this species. While there is some
>variation between fitch and albinos, and males and females, the
>normal white count of the ferret is low, from 2500 to 7000/cm3.
>This occasionally leads to an erroneous diagnosis of leukopenia.
>When considering leukopenia in the ferret, look for elevated
>numbers of bands neutrophils in the peripheral blood. Values for
>calculating a left shift in the dog are valid for that in a ferret. Another
>finding that may support a diagnosis of leukopenia would be a
>concomitant anemia and/or decrease in platelets, such as might be
>seen in bone marrow suppression in estrogen toxicosis or the very
>rare case of adrenal-associated endocrinopathy.
Like Mike I think it would be important to check those red cells.
-- Sukie (not a vet)
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