From:
Pam Sessoms
Date: 2005-08-21 17:13:50 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] what causes eleveated Creatinine levels?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Cc: drdeb@thegrid.net
Message-ID: <5c46b4a405082110137ca1a0d2@mail.gmail.com>
> I have had several ferrets with elevated creatinine levels 1.4-1.9 as
> they get older. BUN is always fine. They eat only Totally Ferret
> kibble with duck soup (cooked whole chicken) once a day. No treats
> except the occasional Bandit. Any clue as to why this is happening???
Deb, I have two currently in this exact situation and have two or
three that are now gone that had it as well. In all cases, they also
have (or had) very dilute urine with low specific gravity, and my vet
considers this to be indicative of early chronic renal failure. What
is the urine like on your guys?
Mine have also all been getting bob's chicken gravy at least once a
day; these are always the older ferrets with at least one serious
health issue, and I put their meds in the gravy. We haven't dropped
dietary protein percentages for any of these guys yet, as sometimes
suggested for CRF, because the chicken gravy provides a good way to
get large volumes of fluid into them in a stress-free manner. Plus,
with the normal BUN, they don't seem to be in really serious trouble
with their kidneys yet. And dropping dietary protein percentages in
carnivores with early CRF appears to be really controversial.
Have you learned anything more about this? I'd be interested to learn
more... I'm taking my current two like this in tomorrow for repeat
blood work and will hope for still no elevated BUN...
Best,
-Pam S.