From:
"megdini"
Date: 2010-08-07 19:06:52 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] ferret health question: lethargy, weight loss, blood work
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hey Everyone,
I'm new to the group, and relatively new to taking care of ferrets. One of our male ferrets, 3 years old, has been losing weight over the past several months and acting a bit more lethargic than his brother. Nothing showed up in fecal samples, so we just got some bloodwork done on him and he is hypoglycemic, anemic, and hypoproteimic(sp?). it seems like a bad combo, and the vet we have isn't an expert in ferret issues. any ideas for what the underlying issue could be, if any, and what can be done to help him out?
[Could you post actual blood values?
Anemia can have several possible causes.
Hypogylcemia is typically insulinoma and
Prednisolone is going to be a ferret's best
friend with with disease usually, though surgery
by a veterinarian who knows ferrets can
be very useful. See things like these to
get you started:
http://www.miamiferret.org/insulinoma.htm
and
http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/PDF/insulinoma.pdf
There are other possible causes of low blood sugar but
this is the common one.
Here is info on blood tests for you AND FOR YOUR VET:
http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/PDF/insulinoma.pdf
and
http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/Clin_Path/ClinPath.html
and
http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/PDF/Ferret_GI_path_reports.pdf
Your vet may want to use other vets for consultations,
or you may need to go to another vet. Here are two
resources which continue to be updated when info is
sent to their librarians/creators:
http://ferrethealth.org/vets/
and
http://www.ferret-universe.com/vets/vetlist.asp
-- Moderator]
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