From:
"Ulrike"
Date: 2008-12-05 13:26:43 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Gravely ill ferret, glomerulonephritis, misc. Q's
To: "FHL" <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
My ferret Piper (4 1/2 years old, spayed, Suprelorin implant 18 November) is
very sick. She was always a very lean and very hyperactive ferret, she went
from completely normal and active to near death's door in less than a week.
Monday-
increased number of bowel movements, though not runny (still has now).
Showed signs of pain at night, was quiet, I thought she was coming down with
an infected canine.
Tuesday-
slowly stopped eating, I think she still ate ground meat in the morning but
at night lack of appetite- started feeding liquid convalescent support diet.
Wednesday-
vet (not my usual one) said Piper had a low temperature, vulva very red
though not swollen, some blood in urine, blood was taken and sent to lab,
Piper was started on injectable Baytril and Buprenorphine and had a shot of
dexamethasone. Was eating her liquid diet well and had a whole portion of
ground meat at night.
Thursday-
barely ate, not even liquid diet, gave 20 ml sub q fluids.
Friday (today)-
my (usual) vet thought of a stump pyometra when she saw the red vulva.
Piper is at the vets now for x-rays, IV fluids and poss. exploratory
laporotomy (unlikely now though). She has now got Piper's blood test
results which seem to indicate (acute?) renal failure. I just got the
following over the phone:
High- Urea/ BUN 25 (3.6-16)
Low- albumin 18 (33-44)
High- phosphate 3.2 (1.3-2.9)
Bile acid 19 (no reference range)
Glucose (just above reference range)
Low- complete white blood cell count
Low- neutrophils
Low- lymphocyte
Normal haematocrit
No abnormal cells on smear
Alk phos 37 (30-120)
The alk phos being towards the low end of the range makes my vet think that
Piper has the inability to mount an appropriate response to stress and this
is what makes her think to remove the implant. My vet thought maybe there
was a low grade glomerulonephritis that didn't cause symptoms and because of
the implant it became worse. Liver failure was considered but my vet would
expect the glucose to be low then. She is phoning the lab to see if they
have blood to run amylase and cholesterol. She is looking at Piper's urine
to see if the can find indicators (forgot what they are called) to see if
the possible renal failure is acute or chronic. Piper is being put on IV
fluids.
Now my glomerulonephritis question. I was in the archives and found the
following quote from Dr. Williams: "Glomerulonephritis is a very specific
disease which is accompanied by loss of protein in the urine." Can I turn
that into "if there is no loss of protein in the urine, there is no
glomerulonephritis"?
Any help *very much* appreciated.
Ulrike
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