Message Number: FHL3119 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "ferretzrule"
Date: 2007-11-28 04:05:42 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Chem/CBC results-looking for vet's and experienced people's input
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

I am hoping to get some experienced ferret people and vet input
on the following test results done on one of my ferrets last week.

History: Billy Gigalo is a 26 month old, neutered, sable MF ferret.
He was rescued a year ago, and for the first three months presented
with bouts of anorexia, bruxism, and depression. His feedings were
assisted during that time and/or supplemented to bring his weight up.
After three months, his spring fur grew in thick and his weight was
at 2lb., 12 ozs. No parasites found in fecal exam.

At his quarterly weigh in, Billy was down to 2lb.,8 ozs. No other
symptoms. Feces were normal. Behavior normal. This was in September.

I've just moved to a small mountain town in NE Arizona. There is one
vet here who treats ferrets, she is not an exotics vet. Just my luck
eh?
I noticed that Billy was getting thinner and his coat was thinning
out instead of getting thicker like the rest of my ferrets. According
to the new vet's scale, Billy now weighs 2lb., 3 ozs. I requested a
chem panel/cbc and just received these results back this evening:
Alk. Phosphatase: 0
AST(SGOT): 340
Albumin: 6.0
Total Protein: 9.0
Globulin: 3.0
Glucose: 18
Phosphorus: 9.8
Potassium: 6.0
Sodium: 180
WBC: 9.5
Neutrophil Seg: 30
Lymphocytes: 57
Monocytes: 8
Eosinophil: 5
Remarks: WBC and RBC morphology appears normal
Sample appearance: Serum received unseparated or partially separated
from cells. (Don't know if this matters, figured I'd better add it in
just in case). Billy had been fasted for at least four hours at the
time of this test.

All other test results were considered within range. The new vet is
making a preliminary diagnosis of insulinoma. Billy is now taking
Clavamox and Carafate. The vet wants to run another BG tomorrow
afternoon because she feels the "sample size may have been too
small". I'm no expert on blood values, but I know 18 is extremely
low for a BG! Other than the weight loss and thinning fur, he is
normal in every way, with no outward symptoms of insulinoma.

This new vet does not do any ferret surgeries, so I figure I need to
find someone down in Phoenix (3 1/2 hours from here). Until I find
someone competent that I can trust, I'd like to know what our list
vets and experienced members think of these results, and if there
is anything else I should be looking for or asking the vet about.

As always, I appreciate the help and education I've received from
this group. Thank you very much.

Bonnie Tormohlen
Director
CA Domestic Ferret Educational Alliance




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