From:
Pam Sessoms
Date: 2005-08-21 19:08:31 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] what causes eleveated Creatinine levels?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5c46b4a405082112082adebd28@mail.gmail.com>
> I wonder if the gravy makes sense or not once kidney disease is present? =
=
Sukie, my vet and I have thought about this a lot and researched it,
and the idea of dropping protein for carnivores, especially early in
crf, is hotly debated among the experts. For a number of reasons, we
are so far finding it more beneficial to continue it at this stage.
First, it provides an easy, non-stressful way of getting a lot of
fluid into these ferrets. My guys will suck down vast quantities of
gravy made so dilute that it is basically chicken broth. Extra fluids
are very important in crf. Second, we're not to the stage where we
have elevated BUN yet, so we still appear to have fairly early crf. =
Thirdly, I've actually tried some kidney diets for cats on these guys,
and my ferrets have universally given them the big snub. They're old
and set in their ways. I don't feel that it is worth all the stress
of a major fight to change the diet until there is more compelling
reason to do so.
Now, if creat keeps rising and we get into high BUN territory, then we
will have to reconsider our approach, such as slowly mixing in the
kidney diet foods with the gravy and trying to change the ratio over
time. I am very curious to see in particular with Yetti, one of my
current guys with this presentation, what his bloodwork shows
tomorrow. He has started to get a little finicky about that first
lick of gravy. Once he tastes it he's off and eats the whole bowl,
but usually when a gravy addict acts funny about the first taste, they
are feeling a little off, and in his case I have to wonder about
worsening CRF.
My previous ferrets with this particular presentation (slightly
elevated creatinine, low urine specific gravity, normal BUN, normal
phosphorous) have gone one with these numbers pretty much unchanged
until some other disease took them. Pumpkin did have a slowly
creeping creatinine, but his cardiomyopathy worsened more quickly and
he was gone before the kidney disease became a primary concern. Same
thing with Nana, but she had many other problems, and her neuro issues
are what took her. On necropsy, Nana's kidneys were small and with
pitted surfaces, but her BUN was never elevated.
Now, I'm not suggesting anyone else manage their ferret CRF cases this
way, because it is a controversial area, one where the experts don't
even agree. Plus, I'm not qualified. Hahaha. Anyway, folks just
have to work with their vets, watch the bloodwork, and do what seems
to be best for their individual cases.
We have been supplementing with Omega 3's in the form of fish oil as
well. These are good for so many things - amazing.
Best,
-Pam S.