From:
mjanke@miamiferret.org
Date: 2005-08-06 16:25:29 UTC
Subject: RE: Anemic ferret
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6902064.1123345529792.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> Kai's hematocrit level was only 16 (normal in the 40 - 60 range). We have put him on Pediapred (2 times daily, 0.5ml each dose) for now and I've been doing feedings of Chicken Gravy every four hours.
That's a seriously low hematocrit. Talk to your vet about getting him started on Procrit (Epoetin alfa). Procrit helps to increase red blood cell production. I've seen it work wonders, but of course you need to find the cause of the anemia too. I'd also be lining up a blood donor ferret if you don't have another healthy one in the house, just in case.
Some causes are autoimmune hemolytic anemia, kidney disease, fleas, gastric (bleeding) ulcers. Of course, those are only a few of the possible causes.
mike