From:
"Barbara Clay"
Date: 2008-12-28 21:59:00 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Immune-mediated hemolytic anemia
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
My patient is Boo. He's a MF, neutered, sable boy 4 - 5 yrs old. I
received him from Animal Control, he'd been a personal surrender,
without any history accompanying him. He has an enormous spleen, one of
the largest I've ever seen. It completely grossly fills out his abdomen
and juts down into his left rear leg. Despite this; His appetite is
great, as is his breathing at this point, and his activity level - too
much so. I've caged/cloistered him in my bed room, in a one level
cage, away from other ferrets, fearing too much excitement, and a
fracture of that spleen.
His bloodwork suggested that he was dealing with Immune-mediated
hemolytic anemia. Because of his too low platelet count, he just wasn't
a surgical candidate, for fear of bleed out. He's on Pred and Baytril,
with a re-exam and re-do of his bloodwork in 2 weeks. Please go to our
Files/Case Files Section to view his bloodwork.
Ferrets are known for enlarged spleens, and I think I just took that
"given" for granted. The vet in reading the bloodwork looked at the
reticulating values and went to his hand-written notes from a lecture
he'd attended. He then proceeded to do some algebraic forumla in his
diagnosis and treatment.
Here are his suggested possibilities; A parasite. It use to be known
as mycoplasma, but is now called hemabartenella. Then there was Zinc
poisoning. Upon hearing those words, I opened the mouth of Boo, and
sure enough, there were broken canines, suggestive of cage gnawing. The
vet gave me the assignment of researching the metals in our cages,
including the rings (hog rings they're called) that hold the panels
together. I took that assignment and asked some friends to help me in
that research. Alot is out there on the internet. I was WOW'd by
what I read. The traditional galvanized cages, without the PVC coating,
can be lethal in Zinc, as many in the bird world have experienced.
Here's one piece that my friend found for me:
http://www. <http://www./> who.int/ipcs
/publications/ehc/en/221_Zinc_Part_2.pdf
[Moderator's Note: Try
http://www.who.int/ipcs/publications/ehc/en/221_Zinc_Part_2.pdf=20=20=20
Because the following is not an abstract nor a press release some
trimming has been done to still point people to ] relevant segments
without quoting enough that copyright might be violated]
>Ferrets (3=965 per group) were fed diets containing zinc
... for up to 6
months. The three ferrets in the 3000 mg/kg group lost a significant
...body weights, had greatly reduced food intakes, and
died or were killed in extremis between days 9 and 13... The ferrets
exposed to 1500 mg/kg zinc were killed at 7=9621
days ...presented with poor condition, weight loss
and up to 80% reduction in food intake. Histological examination...
revealed diffuse nephrosis and active
haematopoiesis in the bone marrow and the extramedullary area of
the spleen. One animal from each dose group had acute pancreatitis.
Haematograms indicated a severe but responding macrocytic
hypochromic anaemia...
...
zinc concentration was significantly increased and the copper
concentration was lower than control values. These changes were
associated with a high concentration of iron in the liver. Increased
incidences of elevated serum urea and blood glucose concentrations
and decreased serum ceruloplasmin oxidase activity ...protein, blood,
glucose and bilirubin
were present in the urine. None of the ferrets given zinc at
500 mg/kg in the diet developed clinical signs. These animals were
killed on days 48, 138 and 191 respectively; they showed signs of
extramedullary haematopoiesis in the spleen
...
threshold of zinc toxicity in ferrets
was proposed to be between 500 and 1500 mg/kg, with the kidney
identified as the target organ of toxicity...
The consequences of copper deficiency may be relevant to some
of the effects noted in studies using elevated zinc levels. The
occurrence of anaemia in animals receiving high doses of zinc is
>generally attributed to induction of copper deficiency...
My question: Has anyone had a ferret diagnosed with Zinc poisoning, and
if so, how did you proceed, and how is the ferret today. Comments
would be appreciated as to the possibility of recovery, if at so
possible. Does anyone have some alternative meds that could be
suggested for ridding the system of metal toxins?
This is rhetorical, but how many times do we diagnose a large spleen,
without realizing the cause?
It's a real damn if I do, and damn if I don't, with having Boo's spleen
removed. At this point, we are doing everything we can to minimize that
spleen, and get those platelets up. Apparently, the enlargement of the
spleen is a result of it doing its job in overdrive! It's an
incredible organ and so often under-rated with its importance and it
being "dispensable". Never again, will I look at an enlarged spleen
as just elective surgery.
Thanking you in advance for your comments. As with all special needs,
this boy has a special place in my heart, and I will do anything to see
him in good health. Going for him is his incredible energy and will.
Barb Clay
Dir of Shelter Affairs for Rocky's
www.rockysferrets.com
PS I just had to add for fear someone would jump on my choice of words,
"elective surgery". I never move forward with surgery with a cavalier
attitude nor a much thought-thru decision in the best interests of my
ferrets. I ain't a knife happy shelter op, ever.
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