From:
Katrina Ramsell
Date: 2011-11-10 20:04:40 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] Re: Advice for IBD?
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
Unfortunately, the panel did not include Lipase. Lipase is an important value to check in ferrets. In ferrets, lipase is usually of gastric (stomach) origin, as opposed to pancreatic as observed more commonly in dogs in cats. Elevated lipase levels indicate some degree of gastritis, whether it be from an ulcer, a hairball or foreign body, IBD, Helicobacter, etc. If they have any serum left, they may want to check lipase. I must also mention that there can be a significant difference between lipase values run on in-house machines vs. those at large labs such as Antech, IDEXX, etc. I'm not sure why. If it sent to a large lab, my normal range for lipase is about 100-500. Although the only way to get a definitive way to get a diagnosis of IBD is to do gastric and intestinal biopsies (full thickness), I look at the Lipase and Globulin levels to give me an index of suspicion of IBD. Azathioprine (Imuran) may be used instead of prednisolone to help control symptoms associated with IBD and it doesn't produce many of the side effects observed with prednisolone.
Katrina Ramsell Ph.D, DVM
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