Message Number: YPG330 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Pam Sessoms"
Date: 2006-12-04 19:18:21 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Diabetes in ferrets
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

Lisa,

Yes, with diabetes, watch for "pu/pd" - polyuria, polydipsia - peeing
a lot, drinking a lot. Diabetic ferrets, like any other diabetic
animal, will get a peculiar odor, especially to their breath. Many
people describe it as fruity, but to me, it smells almost exactly like
fingernail polish remover (acetone). Other signs are similar to
insulinoma: lethargy, weak hind end, stumbling.

You can get urine test strips at the drug store. Diastix or
ketodiastix. Diastix look for sugar in the urine. Ketodiastix look
for sugar and ketones, with two separate test pads on each strip
(these are more expensive of course). When a ferret's blood sugar
gets around about 200 or greater, sugar will spill over into the
urine, and you can detect it with these test strips. Ketones will be
present in the urine if diabetes is advanced - ketones present in a
diabetic ferret are an emergency.

Did the vet check a blood sugar? That would be the best way to tell
if the ferret is diabetic.

Another thing that causes large, dilute puddles of urine is chronic
kidney failure. I've had lots and lots of ferrets with this. You
diagnose it with a simultaneous urine test, for specific gravity, and
blood test for creatinine, BUN, and phosphorous. In my experience,
chronic kidney failure is more common that diabetes.

All of my diabetic ferrets (2 or 3) have been insulinomic formerly,
went diabetic temporarily while on pred, and then became insulinomic
again. But it can certainly also just happen spontaneously. It's
common for a ferret to be temporarily diabetic after a successful
insulinoma surgery too.

Good luck and keep us posted.

-Pam S.



On 12/4/06, Lisa Daley <sldaley98@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi!:
>
> Can anyone tell me the symptoms of ferret disbetes? All I can find is
> info. on insulinoma.
>
> Our one male ferret is urinating in large amounts (big puddles of
> light colored pee) but he's not showing any other signs. Granted he
> eats a lot of chicken gravy but my vet mentioned diabetes.
>
> Thanks!
> Lisa
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>


--
Pam Sessoms
Electronic Reference Services Librarian
Walter Royal Davis Library, Reference Dept.
UNC-Chapel Hill, CB 3922
Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3922

919/962-1151 phone
919/962-5537 fax



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