Ferret Medicine Flashcards
Average lifespan
5-7 years in US; can go up to 12 (Europe)
Common ferret diseases
- neoplasia (insulinoma)
- influenza
- ferret enteric coronavirus
- canine distemper virus
- rabies
- fleas
- ear mites
- heartworm
- foreign bodies
- helicobacter
- IBD
Neoplasms most commonly affect ______
endocrine system
Most common neoplasm in ferrets
pancreatic islet cell tumor (insulinomas)
Second most common neoplasms in ferrets
adrenocortical
Most common hematopoietic neoplasm in ferrets
lymphoma
____% of ferrets have multiple tumor types
12-20%
What tumors occur together most often in ferrets?
insulinoma & adrenocortical carcinoma
Difference between dogs/cats and ferrets regarding insulinoma
in ferrets, insulinoma not highly metastatic and responds well to long term medical management
Recurrence rate of insulinomas
up to 40% within 10 months
Neuro signs associated with insulinoma
ataxia, disassociation, seizures, coma
Survival times for different treatment methods of insulinoma
- partial pancreactomy: over 300 d
- nodulectomy: can be over 200 d
- only medical: 22-186 d
Medical treatment for insulinoma
- Diazoxide
- Prednisolone
- Free choice food: high fat, high protein, low carb feline diabetic diet, dry foods, no treats
- oral corn or karo syrup as emergency
Pathogenesis of adrenocortical neoplasms
absence of gonads->lack of negative feedback for hypothalamus=constantly elevated leutenizing hormone levels->pluripotent cells of zona reticularis differentiate into cells that produce estrogen and intermediate sex steroids including androstenedione and hydroxyprogesterone
Clinical signs of adrenocortical neoplasia
Cutaneous
- follicular atrophy (bc excessive strogen levels)
- irregular patchy hair loss
- rare to not have alopecia
Behavioral
- elevated estrogen or testosterone=sexual behaviors (urine marking, aggression, mounting)
Reproductive
- vulvar swelling in up to 90%
- enlargement of prostate-dysuria
Diagnosing adrenocortical neoplasia
- ultrasound with 14.5 MHz probe
- problems-adrenals so small, may not detect tumor even if it is there
- laboratory-circulating sex steroids (95% predictive of adrenal disease; UT)
- estrogen, androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone
- NOT CORTISOL
- histopathology/surgery
- equal occurrence L/R; 20% both
- Tx of choice
*cannot differentiate between adenoma and adenocarcinoma
Flutamide-mechanism of action
inhibit androgen uptake and binding
Finasteride-mechanism of action
androgen formation blocker
Medical treatment of adrenocortical neoplasms is only useful for _____________
managing symptoms
Depot lupron-mechanism of action
GnRH analog
What is Depot lupron good for/not good for?
hyperplasia; not so much for carcinoma
Deslorelin-mechanism of action
GnRH agonist
Treatment of choice for adrenocortical neoplasia
surgery-debulk/remove affected glands
Describe NORMAL adrenal glands in ferret
white-pink; 2-3 mm wide x 6-8 mm long
Right adrenalectomy concerns
- more difficult due to adherence of the gland to the wall of the vena cava & potential for vascular invasion of the neoplasm
- sometimes vena cava ligation successful but 25% have acute venous hypertension and renal failure
- use neonatal Satinsky clamps on vena cava
- long term survival is possible even if just debulking is performed
Prognois of adrenal neoplasia surgery
- 88-98% survive 1-2 years
- recurrence common with partial removal
- 17% recurrence with unilateral adrenalectomy
- 15% recurrence with subtotal bilateral adrenalectomy
Most common malignancy in the ferret
lymphoma
lymphoblastic vs. lymphocytic lymphoma in ferrets
- lymphoblastic(juvenile): ferrets <2-3 years
- lymphocytic: ferrets > 3 years
Clinical signs-lymphoma
non-specific; can present with respiratory concerns due to enlarged thymus
Stage 1 lymphoma
tumor only involves a single site
Stage 2 lymphoma
multiple sites involved on same side of diaphragm
Stage 3 lymphoma
spleen and lymph nodes on both sides of diaphragm involved
Stage 4 lymphoma
multiple sites on both sides of diaphragm affected
Treatment of lymphoma options
- CHOP
- Chlorambucil + pred=slow it down
- Prednisolone when owner can’t do chemo and if T-cell
- can’t change later
- responsive to radiaiton
- good diet; Oxbow critical care, etc.
What form of influeza is less pathogenic to ferrets?
Type B
Virulence of influenza depends on ______
subtype (alters virulence and chances of secondary bacterial infections)
Clinical signs-influenza
- lethargy
- anorexia
- +/- photophobia and/or conjunctivitis
- +/- pyrexia
How long does influenza typically affect ferrets?
5-7 days; up to 14 days
What is the usefulness of aminophylline?
bronchodilator-can give to ferrets with influenza
Canine distemper is caused by what type of virus?
Morbillivirus
Canine distemper-incubation time
7-10 days
Clinical signs-canine distemper
- papular dermatitis followe by swelling, crusting
- other: anorexia, depression, dyspnea, pyrexia, photophobia, pruritus, blepharospasm, mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharge
Dx of canine distemper
PCR, necropsy, histology
Treatment of canine distemper?
- NONE; death in 12-31 days (wild canine strains) and 12-16 days (ferret-adapted strain)
- euthanasia
Rabies vaccine for ferrets
Merial Imrab3
Treatment of fleas in ferrets
- NO PYRETHRINS, OPs, or CARBAMATES
-
safe: Frontline, Advantage II, Revolution
- feline doses
- Tx environment
Ear mite spp. in ferrets
Otodectes cynotis
(Same as dogs and cats)
Tx of ear mites
- Ivermectin SQ q14d for 3-4 treatments
- Revolution topically 1/2 dose in each ear
Heartworm microfilaria are present in ______% of ferrets
50-60
How do ferrets with heartworm present?
hypothermic; sudden death
Heartworm diagnosis
Rads
- right sided heart enlargement
- filling defects in right side of heart, PA, and VC
Echo
- presence of intracardiac parasites
- worms in PA, RV, RA
- RA, RV dilation
- pulmonary hypertension
Testing
- blood (50% of time see microfilaria)
- ELISA antigen
HW prevention
- Ivermectin
- Heartgard: 1/4 of smallest tablet; cannot keep the rest
- Selamectin topically
- Milbemycin oxime-orally
Risk factors for gastric/duodenal ulcers in ferrets
- Helicobacter mustelae
- neoplasia
- foreign bodies
- toxins
- NSAIDs
- renal azotemia
Treatment of gastritis
- nutritional support
- +/- fluids
- amoxicillin and metronidazole 14-21 days
- bismuth or proton pump inhibitor
Gastritis may lead to _______
adenocarcinoma or lymphoma
IBD can look like what else?
- eosinophilic gastroenteritis, viral diarrhea (coronavirus), dietary indiscretion, helicobacter
IBD treatment
- dietary management, +/- corticosteroids, Azathioprine
Parvovirus in ferrets causes_____________
Aleutian disease
Most common causes of enlarged spleen in ferrets
Hemangioma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma
Clinical signs of hyperestrogenism
- anorexia
- lethargy
- vulvar swelling/discharge
- pallor
- systolic murmur
What is the cause of death in ferrets with hyperestrogenism?
hemorrage secondary to thrombocytopenia
Early/Late clin path findings with hyperestrogenism
Early:
- thrombocytosis
- neutrophilicc leukocytosis
Later:
- nonregenerative anemia
- nucleated RBCs
- neutropenia
- thrombocytopenia
Clinical signs of hyperestrogenism
melena, petechial/ecchymotic hemorrhages, dorsal bilateral symmetric alopecia, concurrent metritis, pyometra or vaginitis, pelvic limb paresis, ataxia, paralysis(subdural hematoma)
Do ferrets have blood groups?
NOPE-can do multiple transfusions without concern
