Exotics: Ferret Medicine Flashcards
- What type of virus is distemper?
- How is it transmitted?
- Morbillivirus
- Aerosols, Direct contact with urine, faeces, skin and other secretions, fomites
Unvaccinated ferrets
Almost always fatal
What are the clinical signs of distemper in ferrets?
- Non-specific- lethargy, anorexia, fever
- Cutaneous- erythema, hyperkeratosis and crusts
- Respiratory- dyspnea, tachypnoea, cough
- Ocular- muco-purulent conjunctivitis
- Neurological- paresis, ataxia, seizures
- How is distemper in ferrets diagnosed?
- How is it treated?
- Unvaccinated ferrets, combinations of signs, swabs for PCR/Ag detection, PM and Histo
- Most require euthanasia, Supportive
When can ferrets be first vaccinated against distemper?
When are they boosted?
12 weeks, yearly boosters
Avoid contact with non-vaccinated
Routine cleaning/hygiene
What is the most common source of infection of influenza in ferrets?
Owners are most common source
Aerosols
How is influenza diagnosed in ferrets?
Clinical signs
* Fever
* URT signs
* Conjunctitivitis
* Occasionally othoer organs
Exposure to humans with flu
How is influenza in ferrets managed?
Most cases are self-limiting
General supportive care- fluids/feeding
NSAIDs?
Antiviral: have been tested in ferrets with positive results, risk of resistance
- What type of disease is Aleutian disease?
- What ferrets are usually affected?
- What are the signs?
- Parvovirus- immunocomplex mediated disease
- Older ferrets 2-4 years
- Death without any clinincal signs, chronic wasting disease, neuro (tremors, paresis/paralysis), organ enlargment, anaemia, melena
How is aleutian disease diagnosed and managed?
Diagnosis
* Plasma electrophoresis- low albumin, high gamma-globulin
* Haematology: low PCV
* Biochem: depends on affected organ
* PCR
* Positive serum ab
Treatment
* Supportive care
* No effective treatment
* Immunosuppressive?
* Melatonin implants?
What lymphomas can commonly occur in ferrets?
- T cell lymphoma
- B cell lympoma
- Cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma
- Gastric lymphoma
How should a ferret lymphoma diagnostic workup work?
- Haematology- anaemia
- Biochemistry- hypoalbumin, hyperprotein, hyperglobin, hypercalcaemia uncommon
- Ultrasound
- Cytology- almost fully diagnostic
- Biopsy samples- allow grading and phenotyping
What treatment options are there for lymphoma?
Chemotherapy- several protocols
* Prednisolone as single agent
* Combination oral (prednisolone and chlorambucil)
* Oral and SC (L-asparaginase)
* SC venous access port
* Modified COP
* Modified CHOP
Radiation therapy
- What cells cause the neoplasm insulinoma?
- What does it cause?
- What are clinical signs?
- How is it diagnosed?
- How is it treated?
- Pancreatic B cells- benign
- Hypoglycaemia
- Nausea, lethargy, ataxia, seizures
- Blood glucose <3.3mmol/l after starving, insulin conc, US, imaging
- Surgery: nodulectomy, partial pancreactomy, suvivial time 1 year
How can insulinoma be medically managed acutely and chronically?
Acute/emergency
* IV bolus dextrose
* Maintenance fluids w/ 5% glucose
* Midazolam
Chronic
* Prednisolone- 0.5mg/kg BID then adjust to effect
* Diazoxide- 5mg/kg BID
What are the three types of hyperadrenocorticism?
What causes it?
Hyperadrenocorticism
* Hyperaldoseronism- mineralocorticoids
* Hyperadrenocorticism- endogenous steroids
* Hyperandrogenism- androgens
Causes
* Surgical neuter
* Abnormal photoperiod/circadian rhythm
* Genetics
What are the clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets?
- Progressive symetrical alopecia
- Pruritis
- Vulvular enlargment in spayed females
- Males- sexual behaviou (odour), urinary blockage (prostate enlargment)
How is hyperadrenocorticism diagnosed in ferrets?
Abdominal ultrasound scan
* Adrenal gland enlargment
* Other organs (prostate)
Advanced imaging
Serum/plasma hormones: androstenedione, estradiol
ACTH not diagnostic
How can hyperadrenocortisim be treated surgically and medically?
Surgical
* Adrenalectomy
How can hyperadrenocortisim be treated surgically and medically?
Surgical
* Adrenalectomy
How can hyperadrenocortisim be treated surgically and medically?
Surgical
* Adrenalectomy- L easy, R close to caudal Vena Cava
* Risks- anaesthesia, bleeding, addison’s
Medical managment
* GnRH-agonist
* Supress released of gonadotrophins and adrenal gland stimulation
* Applied every 12-18 months
What is the clinical approach for a ferret with gastritis?
Common reason for consult- vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, melena
- Complete history
- Full clinical exam
- Some cases- supportive only
- Initial investigations- imaging and blood
- Further investigations- GIT biopsies, C&S
What are possible causes of gastritis in ferrets?
- Foreign bodies
- Toxic ingestion
* NSAID treatment - Helicobacter mustelae infections
- Neoplasia
- Renal disease
What initial supportive disease can be given to ferret with gastritis?
- Fluids
- Anti-emetics- maropitant, ranitidine
- Feeding- frequent/small meals, highly digestable/high protein
- Heat
What is helicobacter mustelae?
- Chronic gastritis and mucosal ulceration
- Clinical signs triggered by stress
- Ulceration- melena, anaemia, shock
Diagnosis: gastric wall biopsies
How is helicobacter mustelae managed?
- ABs: amoxicillin, metronidazole, claritomycine- 21 days
- Bysmuth citrate
- Sucralphate
- Famotidine
- Omeprazole
- Fluids and supportive
What are common causes of diarrhoea in ferrets?
- Bacterial infections- salmonella, campylobacter
- Viral- ferret coronavirus, rota virus (kits), distemper and flu occasionally
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Neoplasia
What are the two forms of viral enteropathies?
Enteric form
* green profuse diarrhoea
* Can become chronic
* Supportive care ± prednisolone
* Tylosin
Systemic form
* Progressive, pyogranulomatous inflammation
* Weight loss, abdominal masses, diarrhoea
Confirm w/PCR
- What age of ferrets are affected by rotavirus?
- How is it treated?
- Young <6 weeks
- Supportive care
- What is the pathogenesis of IBD in ferrets?
- How is it diagnosed?
- How is it managed?
- What other disease is managed the same?
- Lymphoplasmocytic infiltration of intestinal wall
- Abdominal US- only shows increased thickness and reactive lymphnodes
- Diet, prednisolone, Azathioprine
- Eosinophilic gastroenteritis
- What causes proliferative bowl disease?
- What age of ferrets are more affected?
- How is it diagnosed?
- How is it treated?
- Lawsonia intracellularis
- Young ferrets and colon
- Intestinal wall biopsies for histology ± PCR
- Chloramphenicol- not licensed in the UK and potentially severe side effects
When would cardiac disease be suspected?
- > 3 yo
- Lethargy, excercise intollerance, weight loss
- Coughing dyspnoea
- Ascites
- Organmegaly
- Heart murmur, muffled sounds, arrhythmias
- Hindlimb weakness
- Pulse deficits
- Hypothermia
- HR 180-250, sinus arrythmia
How is acute and chronic cardiac disease approached in ferrets?
Acute/Emergency
* Supplement O2
* Sedation
* Furosemide
Chronic
* Full bloods ± urinalysis
* Radiography
* Heart scan
* ECG
* Heartworm testing
* Cardiac troponin
What are the main heart disease presentations?
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- Valvular heart disease (aortic most common)
- Myocarditis
- Neoplasia
- Heartworm
What are the treatment optons for cardiac disease?
- Stable and diagnosed patients
- Furosemide
- ACE-inhibitors
- Pimobendan
