From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2010-04-20 03:57:25 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Re: Pancreatitis
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi,
On 4/19/10, Tressie <tressiedu@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> In addition we were advised that diagnosis was dependent on the stage of
> pancreatitis. Combined elevations of lipase and amalyase are suggestive. [edit]
> In addition we were advised that active pancreatitis usually causes high
> bood sugar.
Pertwee did have full bloodwork including a chem panel done at the
time. It was all normal and his blood glucose was never outside the
normal range. We had seen ferrets lose weight as a result of
insulinoma so blood glucose was one of the first things the vet wanted
to check.
> An ultrasound by
> someone very experienced in ferret ultrasounds was recommended as the most
> useful diagnostic, with surgical biopsy being the conclusive diagnostic
> test.
It may well be that ultrasound has improved enough since 2001 when
Pertwee was diagnosed that it would be useful today. Surgical biopsy
was ruled out because of Pertwee's rather extreme medical history.
Our vet considered him compromised enough that he didn't want to put
him under again unless absolutely necessary. You are absolutely
correct that it could have been diagnostic with an otherwise healthy
ferret without the kind of history Pertwee had. By the age of two
Pertwee had both adrenal glands out as well as one kidney. At three
and a half the last thing the vet wanted to do was open him up again.
Anyway, the Viokase-V worked very well for Pertwee but it sure was
expensive over time. Live cancer got him in the end at age five and a
half. Our vet called him the "wonder weasel" because it was a wonder
he lived to be two, let alone anything near a normal lifespan.
All the best,
Caity and the terrific trio
(Ella, Zephyr and Chin Soon)
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