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Post by Thérèse on Jun 6, 2016 3:08:18 GMT -5
I know the factors that contribute to insulinoma, adrenal disease and cardiomyopathy etc. and take what measures I can to avoid ill health in my ferrets. To ensure the best for all my ferrets I really need to get considered opinions on what might cause kidney failure in a 4 1/2 yo ferret with no known health issues. Am tagging those with experience of sickies etc. in the hope someone can give me some possible causes and I can avoid any risk factors in the future. Am hoping it is not like lymphoma and most often just luck of the draw or genetics. I will add that in cats my first thought would be teeth. My ferrets get plenty of bone in etc. for good dental health. Sherry katt Heather crazylady @vickiann Jeremy's Boggle
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2016 4:48:25 GMT -5
I have just dealt with that with my 5-6 y/o. Now I can onlu talk from experience,not so much backup research. He was adrenal, insulinomic. He was a stray ferret for a long time, and the only thing he recognized as food was fruit,veggies and dog kibble. So I am certain that was what previous owner was feeding him. Surely diet is a huge factor (especially if you are dealing with a rescue). Secondly vet suggested simply genetics, some just get it out of nowhere. Teeth (mine had horrid teeth). Another alert was toxins or poisons, which strike as an acute case. I will follow your thread in the hope I will learn more, especially on the "how to prevent it" side since I have no real advice on that
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jun 6, 2016 8:18:24 GMT -5
I don't know of any preventative measures. I do use a supplement for kidney support. It is usually cause by other health issues and sometimes a surgical complication. Here is the supplement I use: www.earthanimal.com/sf/bladder-kidney/healthy-bladder-a-kidneySorry I misread the post at first. Genetics, heart issues, insulinoma, post surgery and malnutrition have been causes that I've seen here. We have had a good bit of success treating kidney failure with subq fluids, the above supplement and phosphate binders.
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Post by Sherry on Jun 6, 2016 10:02:49 GMT -5
Kidney failure can be genetic, or triggered by external stimuli. Damage from too much plant protein could do it for a ferret or cat. As could damage from crystals/stones, a physical blow or injury. I am quite certain there are others I am not thinking of at the moment. And of course, lymphoma as well.
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Post by Thérèse on Jun 6, 2016 10:22:14 GMT -5
Thank you to those who have responded already.
I will now give a little more detail. Over the weekend I noticed Sumo drinking more than usual and he also lost a lot of muscle mass really fast. I then noticed he wasn't eating. He also became really lethargic. I tried to syringe feed him, keep him warm and get to a knowledgeable vet (I had no idea what was going on, so I needed someone who did). By the time we got to the vet, he was having mini seizures (not the full on screaming ones but more like a severe tic). The vet looked him over and said his kidneys weren't working. He said we could do tests to get answers as to what had happened but even with those he only gave him, at best, a 10% chance of making it because the seizing said things were very bad. We did do a BG test because the not eating may have caused his BG to drop (he has been on a raw diet since I got him 3 1/2 years ago) and that might be the cause of the seizures and then it meant the kidney thing mightn't be so bad. His BG was fine. I decided not to put him through the trauma of a barrage of tests with only a 10% chance we could help him because he was already in distress. I had him put to sleep.
I am really freaking out though because I have no idea why this has happened and I am really scared it could happen to any of my other ferrets if I can't get some idea about why. Last week he was his usual self, even climbing up on the kitchen bench (which is quite an effort for a 3 legged ferret).
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Post by Jeremy's Boggle on Jun 6, 2016 10:34:03 GMT -5
I'm so very sorry Theresa.
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Post by Heather on Jun 6, 2016 13:04:13 GMT -5
OH, I'm so sorry I will light a travelling candle for your wee one. Genetics is possible issue. Nefarious was fed dog kibble for most of his life. I was waiting for heart issues but instead I'm dealing with renal failure and blindness. I don't know why it affected him and not his cage mate....luck of the draw?. I'm sorry about your wee one though. I don't really have any answers for you. ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2016 13:21:53 GMT -5
I am so sorry! I wish you strength to make it through... the fact that I dealt with the same thing a few weeks ago made it even more painful to read. We had to make the same decision. You are in my thoughts
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Post by Thérèse on Jun 6, 2016 13:31:46 GMT -5
Thank you to everyone. I am getting the impression that, barring kibble fed problems and other illnesses, it is a luck of the draw thing, much like lymphoma (which luckily I have never had to deal with) and there is no way to ensure I don't have to see it again.
When we were discussing options, my vet did say that the seizing indicated that toxins from his kidney had probably caused damage to his brain and that even if we did the tests and treated him and he was lucky enough to be in the 10%, he could be brain damaged.
I am finding this very hard, it was all so sudden and my beautiful Sumo had been through so much and always come out with his ferrety attitude in tact. I can't believe my little tripod has gone and in this fashion.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jun 6, 2016 14:37:18 GMT -5
I am terribly sorry for your lost. DIP SUMO
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2016 16:45:50 GMT -5
I'm so sorry to hear about Sumo I think everyone has pretty much covered the main causes of renal failure in cats and ferrets. The only thing I think I could add is that there is increasing speculation (but very little scientific data as yet) that leptospirosis (even cleared infections) may contribute to the development of renal failure in cats. There is some speculation that cats would be exposed as their food sources are often reservoir hosts of leptospira - which would also fit for some ferrets. Often, sadly, genetics do play a part and it is not an infectious or contagious course but just a very sad development in the individual ferret.
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Post by katt on Jun 6, 2016 20:47:16 GMT -5
Oh no, not Sumo!! He was always one of my favorites on the forum - such a little fighter. I'm so sorry Therese. He was one lucky boy to have had such an amazing mom watching out for him - he led a beautiful life filled with so much love. Words are never enough in these situations. **hugs** Goodbye little Sumo, you will be sorely missed. Watch over your mom from the Bridge. In regards to renal disease... Unfortunately it is likely largely genetic, autoimmune, etc. The only thing you can really do as far as preventive measures go are a good raw diet and good hydration (which raw obviously helps with significantly).
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Post by Thérèse on Jun 7, 2016 3:13:12 GMT -5
Thank you again all. When I am up to it I will make a post in the bridge section. I did take some video of him about a year and half ago to show Sherry how well he got about and was going to combine it and post it but have not got round to it, so I will eventually post that too.
As always it is the little unexpected things that get to me most. Today I tripped on the pet steps by the bed and dissolved into a puddle of tears when I realised I don't need them anymore because the others get on the bed just fine without them.
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Post by Sherry on Jun 7, 2016 10:05:01 GMT -5
I am SO sorry Theresa He had a wonderful life living with you, and loved you dearly.
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