From:
cbaker@du.edu
Date: 2006-06-07 19:16:25 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Rocky update--autoimmune disease
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Rocky is hanging in there after having a severe allergic reaction to something in Nutrical--we don't know what ingredient triggered it, but doesn't seem to be soy or corn. He hasn't had any further reactions, but went off his feed nearly a week ago. I'm keeping him going with hand feedings and fluid management. Rocky's vet consulted w/a specialist at a university--they say he has an autoimmune disease similar to lupus (but not lupus). He is not very optimistic for a good prognosis. Rocky is on pred and the vet put him on a course of amoxy and baytril today, as well as probiotics.
For those of you who asked, his bloodwork was normal EXCEPT: eosinophils and monocytes very high and WBC pretty low. He gets his next test in a week. We decided not to do any internal biopsies now b/c of his weakened condition.
His only symptom currently is the wasting associated w/not eating. Stools are normal (but infrequent), and he's not vomiting. Activity level is surprisingly high--he almost seems manic and hardly ever sleeps anymore, and when he does, it's not soundly.
The trick right now is getting him to eat. I've tried every kind of cat or ferret kibble there is. What he nibbles one day, he won't touch the next. Some days he eats OK on his own, and others, nothing. We've tried chicken, ground turkey, pork, steak--you name it. About the only thing he'll take consistently is chicken baby food, but only in small quantities. We're trying some ground lamb tonight, and I had a butcher grind a whole chicken (bones and all) that I'll use to make a gravy. Can't use the packaged duck soup or add nutrical to my own concoction b/c of the allergy.
I'm taking him to see a veterinary homeopath tomorrow.
Does anyone have any ideas about this? I'll try anything!
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