From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2009-02-01 13:54:36 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Xena: kidney failure : history, symptoms, chemistry, questions
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Some kidney problems like acute kidney failure,
or hydronephrosis can be gotten past with very
careful treatment. When Hilbert had hydronephrosis
we were getting about 150 ml (cc) of fluid into him
daily as the most important thing. That is about
double of what he should normally drink. Lots of
fluids is the rule...
Chronic renal failure can only be managed, but it
varies how well.
Ferrets with chronic renal failure often have no early
signs and often look normal on bloodwork until
they pass a certain level.
There is a recent abstract which may interest your
vet (just an "in case" thing because it is one example
of an adrenal problem affecting the nearby kidney):
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL7769
Mouth sores can be made more comfy by using a
bit of regular Listerine on a swab when they start.
Normally, you want to decrease phosphorous intake
and usually that is done by either reducing proteins
or by selectively changing which protein sources are
given. Omega 3 Fatty acids are also given. Those
are in fish oils (Don't give cod liver oil which is too
high in Vitamin D for many members of Carnivora.)
and in flax seed oil. Remember to refrigerate both
of those oils once the bottles are open. There is
something else that i can't recall off hand but it
will be in a post I'll find for you and link here...
Here are some other sources of info with more to
supplement what Tressie sent:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL7651
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL4695
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG14864
and there are more.
On very rare occasion a ferret with chronic kidney
failure will throw a clot (thrombos). Our Spot did
that as his first sign. In his case it went to his brain
and he was comatose for 3 days but with care he
got past that with only a tiny bit of damage to one
foot and a bit up that leg, so went back to play until
his kidneys finally worsened much more.
The important thing to monitor to know when his kidneys
can no longer work sufficiently is how well he concentrates
his urine. Unfortunately, I no longer can recall the critical
number but your vet can contact a veterinary nephrologist.
In fact, a very good one, Dr. Scott Brown, is mentioned in one
of the posts that Dr. Murray wrote which I link to above.
If I recall right from when he helped us with Hilbert, he
even has a ferret himself, but I could be wrong and it could
be Dr. Carl Osborne (also one of the very good people
who who helped Hilbert who has a ferret, or perhaps both do).
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