Ferrets Flashcards
blood volume of ferret
50-60 mL/ kg
how much blood can you withdraw from ferret
<10 % blood volume: 5-6 mL/ kg
What gauge needle do you use in ferrets
25 or 22
what vein is most common
jugular: more lateral than in dogs/ cats
Cranial vena cava
dorsal restraint with forelegs pulled caudally and head/ neck extended
25 gu into thoracic between 1st rib and manubrium at 45 degree angle
direct needle toward opposite rear leg or most caudal rib and insert almost all the way to hub
venipuncture for small volumes (1mL)
lateral saphenou, cephalic vein, lateral tail vein, tail artery
get blood from tail artery
heat will promote vasodilation
dorsal restraint
topical lidocaine or prilocaine
ventral side of tail, groove along midline, artery 203 mm deep to skin
IV catheters
lateral saphenous, cephalic, jugular, tail vein
22-24 guage catheter
intraosseous catheters
lung small ferrets/ poor BP
proximal femur
anesthetize
20-22 gauge with 1.5 in spinal needle
robust erythron
higher Hct, Hgb and total RBC than dog/ cat
normal HCT:
46-61%
normal reticulocyte count
<10%
lymphocyte ratio range
1.7:1 to 0.7:1
urinalysis
low grade proteinuria
pH varies with diet
when would you administer a blood transfusion
PCV <25 %
thrombocytobepnic, ecchymosis, petechiation, bleeding
do ferrets have blood groups
no so there is little risk of transfusion raeaction
How much/ how long would you transfuse?
6-10 mL over 1-2 hrs
can do intraosseous or IV
Oxyglobin
can give 3 mL/ kg/ hr for 12- 15 mL / kg
GI system
carnivore GI with simple stomach
GI transit time
Short: 148-219 min
model for what human disease
gastric/ duodenal ulcers, gastro-esophageal reflux, gastric carcinoma and lymphoma, helicobacer mustelae, model to test anti-emetics
intestines
jejunoileum: no differentiation between jejunum and ileum, ends at ascending colon
no cecum
cervical vegas stimulation will affect intestinal motility
dental dz
similar to cats
middle/ older ferrets
tarter, gingivitis, periodontal dz
broken canines
Gastric ulceration
variable etiologes, actue FB, toxins
renal
helicobacter
Helicobacter gastritis
endemic in most commercially-produced ferrets
asymptomatic carriers
stress/ dz may factor
clinical signs: bruxism, ptyalism, anorexia, chronic weight loss, melena, blood tinged vomiting
Helicobacter gastritis Dx
fecal occult blood, regenerative anemia
difficult to culture and is endemic
pyloric or duodenal mucosal biopsy
warthin-starry stain
helicobacter gastritis Tx
antibiotics, proton pump inhibitor, mucosal protectancts, H2 receptor agonists
metronidazole and amoxicillin OR clarithromycin
sucralfate
bismuth subsalicilate
famotidine or ranitidine
epizootic catarrhal enteritis
corona virus
proliferative bowel disease
campylobacter or lawsonia intracellularis
Inflammatory bowel dz
lymphoblastic, multiple causes, food allergies (grain,), prednisone (use cautiously in ferrets), azothiaprine and metronidazole (both immunosuppressive)
Viral diarrhea: Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis
profuse, mucoid, green slime diarrhea, older ferrets susceptible, younger are carriers
lethargy, dehydration, anorexia
mortality low with tx- mainly focussing on hydration
antibiotics for secondary infection
Respiratory anatomy in ferrets
cone shaped thoracic cavity with 14 ribs and 9 sternebrae
lungs go from 1-10th ICS
left lung: cranial and caudal lobes
Right lung: cranial, middle, caudal, accessory
influenza
only species susceptible to human flu
Clinical signs: photophobia, catarrhal nasal discharge, sneezing, coughing, pyrexia, anorexia, malaise, swallowing efforts
Tx: supportive antihistamines, cough suppressants, prophylactic antibiotics
bordatella bronchiseptica and pasteurella multocida
bordatella responds poorly to antibiotics, bronchicine killed vaccine
Tx: TMS, chloramphnicold
Canine Distemper
fatal
dz progression: 12-42 days
transmission: direct contact, fomites, aerosolization of urine, feces, nasal exudate
immunosuppressive: can survive respiratory phase and then succumb to neurologic stage within weeks
must vaccinate!!! 6, 10, 14 weeks old and annually
Canine distempor clinical signs
anorexia, pyrexia, chin dermatitis, phhotophobia, nasal/ ocular discharge, brown crusts on face
bronchopnemonia, hyperkeratosis of planum nasal and foot pads, CNS signs
Canine distemper histopath
eosinophilic viral inclusion bodies found in bladder, renal pelvis, biliary epithelium
non-suppurative encephalitis with demyelination
heart worm
dyspnea, cough, pale mm, lethargy, anorexia
muffled heart sounds or low grade murmur, enlarged heart, pulmonary congestions, pleural effusion, ascites
Dx: echo, snap IDEXX test or dirocheck (false negatives)
Tx: thiacetarcemide or ivermectin with steroids
prevention: heartguard, revolution for cats
why are snap tests not good for heart worm
snap tests are for female antigens and due to small amounts in ferrets and cats can sometimes be one sex so hard to test
what should always be a differential for nasal discharge
dental disease
tooth root abscesses
do dental/ skull rads
paroxysmal sneezing
dust spider webs, inhale particulate matter
urinary tract obstruction/ urolithiasis tx
urinary catheter, fluids, surgery, perineal urethrotomy
diet change (not cat food), antimicrobiall therapy
EMERGENCY
what is urethral blockage a common sequelae for
adrenal dz
hyperestrogenism
tx: HCG injections
ferrets are seasonally polyesters and induced ovulates
if intact their season is march-sept.
females can develop estrogen toxicity and bone marrow suppression if not bred
prostatic dz
often secondary to adrenal dz and can lead to urethral obstruction
tx: tx adrenal dz, antibiotics, drainage of infected fluid, surgical de-bulking when needed
Cutaneous Neoplasia
mast cell and basal cell tumors: only in skin
do not typically metastasize
can be itchy, bleed, appear ulcerated
prognosis good
fibrosarcoma, sebaceous gland adenoma do metastasize
Dermatophytosis
microsporum canis and trichophyton metagrophytes
direct contact transmission
self limiting lesions
secondary pyoderma
Tx: iodine or chlorhexidine, griseofulvin, disinfect environment
Sarcoptes scabiei
generalized on face, pinna and venture
localized on paws, nails and toes
Dx: skin scrape
Tx: ivermectin or lyme sulfur dips
Otitis media/ interna
pasteurella multocida
Dx: rads
Tx: enrofloxacin systemic and topical (baytril or gentamycin) or chloramphenicol
flush ears with saline (anesthesia)
Neurologic distemper
end stage progresses to naso-ocular exudate, hyperkeratosis of foot pads, then neurotropic phase, excess salivation, muslce tremors, convulsions, coma
grave prognosis
vaccinate!
Rabies
ascending paralysis, ataxia, cachexia, fever, hyperactivity, bladder atony, tremors, paresthesia
prevention: modified live vaccine
Adrenal gland dz
adenoma, adenocarcinoma, adrenocarcinoma
hyper secretion of sex hormones, DHEA, estradiol, progesterones
most develop
what testing can you do for adrenal dz
can’t use ACTH stim or dexamethasone suppression
urinary cortisol:creatinine is not a specific indicator
serum concentrations of steroid hormones are most reliable for diagnosing adrenal dz: done in Ten
clinical signs of adrenal dz
symmetric alopecia, pruritis, erythema, sexual behaviors, vulvar enlargement, bone marrow toxicity (hyperestrongenism in females), urinary obstruction (males)
why is right adrenalectomy harder than left
near vena cava and caudate lobe of liver
Medical tx of adrenal dz
leuprolide acetate monthly depot infections
GnRH agonist, stimulates LH/ FSH
Surgical tx for adrenal dz
surgical adrenalectomy
surgery and leupron
recurrence likely on other gland
controllable/ not curable
insulinoma
beta cell tumor of pancreas that causes hyper secretion of insulin
clinical signs: decreased activity, weightless, difficult arousal from sleep, hypothermia, ptyalism, mental dullness, tremors, collapse
Dx: blood glucose <70 mg/ dL
Insulinoma Tx
prednisone: blocks peripheral uptake of glucose and increasing hepatic gluconeogenesis
surgical: nodulectomy or partial pancreatectomy
lymphoma
young
acute onset
rapidly progressive
multi-centric distribution involving hematopoietic and lymphatic tissues, lung, kidney
older ferrets become chronic and have better survival
Lymphoma Clinical signs
anorexia, weight-loss, lethargy
mediastinal lymphoma-dyspnea, coughing, regurgitation
GI or abdominal: emesis, diarrhea, tenesmus, splenomegaly
Dx: biopsy
Tx: surgery, chemo, steroids
Chordomas
originate from original notochord
round smooth mass on tail tip
slow growing but can metastasize
tx: surgical removal, tail amputation
Aleutian Dz
aerosolization of virus particles or contact with urine, feces, saliva, blood
immune mediated disorder characterized by hypergammaglobulinemia
clinical signs: chronic weight loss, cachexia, malaise, melena, posterior paresis
dx: clinical signs, hypergamaglobulinemia on electrophoresis
tx: none
Cardiac Dz
cyanosis, tachypnea, increased CRT, jugular dissension or pulses, abnormal femoral pulses, tachycardia, muffled heart sounds, left/ right sided murmurs, gallop rhythm, pulmonary crackles, ascites
Rads: globoid heart, pleural effusion, pulmonary venous congestion, diffuse interstitial pattern, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, ascites
DCM
most common
tx: alter heart rate, preload, after load and contractility
digoxin, nitroglycerine, ACE inhibitors (enalapril)
HCM
improving diastolic fcn
beta adrenergic blockers (propranolol), calcium channel blockers (diltiazem)
splenomegaly
incidental
primary: lymphoma, neoplasia, ADV
Secondary: insulinoma, adrenal dz, cardiac dz, dental dz
