From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2008-08-23 04:52:32 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re:UTI possible stones??
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Basic before reading:
Neutral pH is 7.0
Numbers below 7.0 indicate increasing levels of acidity the lower you go.
Numbers above 7.0 indicate increasing levels of alkalinity the higher you go.
The most common uroliths in ferrets have been struvite ones from food that is too high in
plant matter and causes too alkaline urine.
The less common calcium-oxalate uroliths and cystine uroliths happen in urine that is
acidic. The pH for calcium-oxalate uroliths is new info for the archives.
BEGIN QUOTE
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/message/7315
Actually a ph of 7 is elevated. Normal ph should be 5 to 6
(ie on the acid side). Most struvite stones will show up on
an X-ray. Ultrasound would be the other way to check the
bladder for stones. The urine can be cultured to determine
what bacteria is in it and what antibiotic to use to treat it.
One thing to check for is adrenal gland disease with secondary
prostate cyst/abscess/infection. This can cause the wetness around
his prepuce and reoccurance of urination problems. An ultrasound
to check his bladder and prostate may be needed.
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM
END QUOTE
That led me to ask Dr. Murray some questions. Why? Well: as everyone who has read
_Biology and Diseases of the Ferret_ or the tables of norms for ferrets created by Dr.
Susan Brown and available on some websites and elsewhere knows those resources say
that the normal pH of ferret urine is quite different, for example:
Urine pH 6.5-7.5; mild to moderate protein urea is common and normal.
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/physiology.htm
and in our own private experience we have two members of our ferret family who develop
cystine uroliths if they are on diets with more than 35% protein. (Cystine uroliths are a
potentially fatal (due to urinary blockages) form of urinary track stone in which four of the
amino acids (Cystine, Ornithine, Lysine, and Arginine) pose problems. When any of them
are too high for the individual then Cystine precipitates out and forms stones. The
predisposition to these stones is typically from genetic changes affecting the kidneys. For
ages (in general, not specifically in ferrets) one genetic cause has been known and others
have been found in the last decade.)
Dr. Murray replied privately that ferrets on a high protein diet should always be expected
to have more acidic urine, and for a high protein diet that is normal.
AH! THAT EXPLAINS THAT! INFO GAINED!
If a person has a ferret with acidic urine and a cystine urolith occurs then you still need to
pull that pH up to at least 6.5 life-long while seeking veterinary care and expecting to
have regular imaging of the bladder after the problem is resolved.
I don't know what pH is aimed for if a ferret is prone to calcium-oxalate uroliths.
***** HMMM, ANOTHER QUESTION...*****
Dr. Murray did also impart that Potassium citrate (which is also used in cases of chronic
kidney failure) has been used to raise the urine pH when there are either calcium oxalate
stones or cystine stones.
But, if your ferret is on a high protein diet and has a low urine pH that obviously does not
mean that uroliths are inevitable, nor even that they would be as likely as struvite ones
are when urine is too alkaline.
Three other notes:
for some ferrets with cystine uroliths controlling the protein levels is not enough and for
them there are medical approaches. Both Dr. Tom Kawasaki (pers com) and Dr. Michael
Dutton (journal paper) are resources for this information, and some posts in the FHL
Archives could help with Amy Seyler's info on Polycitra-K (a urine alkalizer) and
Tiopronin. Examples:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG13030
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YG10779
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG9310
One tricky thing about Tiopronin is that it can sometimes remove senses of smell and
taste so it's best if diet works to go with that route. In our two who have this
vulnerability, rather than dying so young they are now in advanced middle age (one going
on 5 years and one going on 6 years without need for further surgery or meds as long as
we keep their dietary levels of protein no higher than 35%)
During treatment for any type of urolith extra water intake is essential.
A bladder stone can first look instead like an intestinal blockage in ferrets but an x-ray
will help tell the difference. For both of ours that was the original symptom and we
immediately sought veterinary care on an emergency basis since any type of blockage can
go very wrong so quickly. This symptom is because the swollen bladder presses against
the colon, not letting the bowels pass feces.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
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