Message Number: YPG1354 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Debra K Turcott-Johnson"
Date: 2007-02-26 03:13:11 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] REPOST(rewritten): was ANEMIA low glucose/novosource 2.0
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

NOTE:
I have condensed and rewritten much of the information that was in
these TWO posts(now becoming one)- hopefully someone (anyone) will
read this post and evaluate all the vaules given and share their
thoughts on our situation.

Thank you in advance for any information or experiences you can
provide.

Debra K Turcott-Johnson
___________________________________________________________________


ANEMIA!!!! was Re: low glucose/novasource 2.0

Primary Vet (note: for the rest of this post PVet = Primary Vet)

PVet called to give results of blood test on 2/15/07 (whose results
are towards the end of this post). He had been looking over a few of
Luke's recent blood tests. States Luke's hemocrit has been declining
over time.

These are the HCT or PCV for the last 6 blood tests (not including
2/15/06 values.

6/23/06 HCT=31.7%
9/12/06 HCT=42.7%
12/16/06 HCT=32.7%
1/15/07 Office 2 PCV=71 No units given
1/31/07 Office 2 HCT= 28.5%
2/8/07 Office 2 PCV=34 No units given

RBC's

6/23/06= 6.54 10^6/ul
9/12/06= 8.67 (same units)
12/16/06=7.30 (same units)
1/15/06=Office 2 Has three handwritten values
with no units: PCV=71, TS=7.3, BC=1
1/31/06 Office 2 - this time a printed report RBC's=5.54 M/ul
2/8/06 Office 2- handwritten/no units/three values:
PCV=34, TS=7.2, BC= looks like .5


PVet feels from all the blood tests (including 2/15/07) the numbers
are pointing to serious Anemia- could be caused by chronic
inflamation, Adrenal disease, Renal disease (first time I have heard
of Luke having renal disease)or bone marrow cancer.

I know for a fact that his BUN and creatinine values have been in
normal range (with one BUN exception) for the last six blood tests.

His Urine Specific Gravity has been in normal range (for older
kidneys) Luke's most recent test results:

1/8/07= 1.030
1/19/07= 1.021
2/8/07= 1.025
BUT
2/15/07 he had BUN 48 and creatinine 1.6. Creatinine has never been
over 0.6 until 2/15. Considering he has had very good Blood Values
for BUN and Creatinine plus he has been able to concentrate his urine
(and assuming he can still concentrate his urine) how likely is the
anemia coming from a renal problem? Does BUN 48 and Creatinine 1.6 =
Renal failure for a ferret?(I have a CRF(Chronic Renal Failure) Cat)

PVet states perhaps we could/should do a bone marrow tap. I'm OK
with this (except it is going to be stressful and painful for Luke-
so if we don't HAVE to do it then postpone it). I think it could be
Luke's problematic right adrenal- PVet talks about blocking Estrogen
Toxicity, it is NONregenerative anemia- he stated perhaps the Casodex
may block the estrogen but he needs to check on that. I told him
nope Casodex targets the DHT receptors on the prostate it is devoid
of any other endocrine action (Thanks Dr Murray the Casodex info is
permanently burned into my mind). So he really does not know where
to go medication wise. For ideas I came to FHL, searched the
archives- learned that Anemia caused by Adrenal disease is dangerous,
that Arimidex blocks the the hormones coming from the adrenal gland
from producing estrogen and that Epogen or Procrit can help with
production of red blood cells. If this is an adrenal type anemia
will the Epogen/Procrit be effective if the patient has
Nonregenerative Anemia? What would the dose be for Armitrex and
Epogen be for a 3.0 pound ferret? His current meds are Pred 1 ml
every 12 hours (Insulinoma). Proscar 0.2 ml once a day. During 2/15
visit to PVet suggested adding the Casodex back (he said keep the
Proscar)- because Luke was doing some straining and whimpering when
urinating and defecating (yes the prostate problem continues but he
has good urine flow). Also Lupron monthly depot 500 mcg. I just
started melatonin 1.5 mg (3 mg pills are scored crack them in half).

Here are Luke's Blood Test Results from 2/15/07:

CBC-Differental

WBC= 12.3 10^3/ul
LYMF= 4.2 10^3/ul
GRAN= 5.6 10^3/ul
MONO= 2.5 10^3/ul
LYMF= 34.5%
GRAN= 45.5%
MONO= 20.0%

HCT= 23.7%
MCV= 49.2 fl
RBC= 4.81 10^6/ul
HGB= 10.1 g/dl
MCH= 21.1 pg
MCHC= 42.9 g/dl
RDW%= 16.7%

MPV= 8.9 fl
PLT= 131 10^3/ul


COMPREHENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC

ALB 3.1 G/DL
ALP 35 U/L
ALT 64 U/L
AMY 16 U/L
TBIL 0.7 MG/DL
BUN 48 MG/DL
CA++ 9.8 MG/DL
PHOS 6.7 MG/DL
CRE 1.6 MG/DL
GLU 102 MG/DL
NA+ 156 MMOl/L
K+ 5.5 MMOl/L
TP 7.4 G/DL
GLOB 4.3 G/DL

These results were faxed to the specialist/surgeon. He called me
with his thoughts:

His first sentence: "This doesn't look good".
He finds the white blood cells alarming. He feels for a ferret the
blood vaules for WBC should be from 4-7. He does not like to see it
at ten. Luke's is at 12.3 for this test. He does not like the
Lymphocyte number either. He states that what the PVet says
is all true but he finds the WBCs and Lymphocite numbers concern him
more. He says perhaps Lymphoma or it could be his Insulinoma. He
also says FIRST LETS RERUN THE BLOOD TESTS. The machine could have
had some errors. He wanted to know if Luke was acting sick- diarrea,
vomiting, fever, lethargy etc. No not at all. He is eating like a
hog- Bob Church's Chicken Gravy with some Gerber Baby Stage 2 (trying
to wean him off the baby food and onto the chicken gravy). Actually
he was very active on that day. The specialist says that his
behavior does not match what is on this blood test. If his condtion
changes call otherwise he will see us Thurs 2/22/07 and another blood
test will be taken then.

Unfortunately my Husband's mother died unexpectedly on 2/21 - visit
to Specialist for blood test was rescheduled for Monday 2/26.



Any info would be greatly appreciated

Thank You








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