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Post by acodlin on Jun 7, 2011 18:10:43 GMT -5
I noticed one of my girls today peed a green puddle, like grass green. I made a vet appointment for her for next week but it worries me. Anyone had any experience with this problem?
She's had no weight loss but she is thin, she never really gained much weight back after she lost her baby weight, not lethargic, she eats fine, poops fine, there is a normal amount of urine.. I've seen green urine before but it wasnt this green and it was usually mixed with poo so I thought maybe it was just discolored from the poop. She did have an enlarged spleen, I can still feel it a little bit but its almost normal.
She gets revolution so I'm sure its not heart worms. She's in the process of trying to transition to raw and she eats soupies and a little bit of zupreem kibble. I don't give her any treats other than an occasional N-bone.
I swear I'm going to have a full head of gray hair by the time I'm 30.
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Post by miamiferret2 on Jun 7, 2011 19:09:39 GMT -5
Take her to the vet & check for infections in urine. check kidney, liver w/ cbc. Is it cloudy? Also last one to do is check for heart worms bc hw prevention is not 100% effective. Did you give any vitamins or supplements?
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Post by acodlin on Jun 7, 2011 19:38:20 GMT -5
No its not cloudy, once a week she gets a little ferretone for nail clipings or ear cleanings.
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Post by Sherry on Jun 7, 2011 19:46:43 GMT -5
Definitely have liver values checked. Only thing I've read about with green urine is liver malfunction. It has been treated before.
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Post by acodlin on Jun 14, 2011 13:40:05 GMT -5
So Anks had an analysis of her urine done yesterday and there was bilirubin in it. My vet calls me today and says he talked to a specialist and it could be the FIP like coronovirus. We go in next monday to do labs to check some values. I've looked this disease up and its apparently very rare, she shows no signs other than being skinny. She's been skinny since she lost her baby weight last year. She hasnt lost anymore weight, doesnt show any of these other symptoms other than enlarged spleen. I'm not sure why they jumped to this disease first. *sigh* It's really upsetting, its 100% fatal.. I'm reading that the average duration of the disease is 67 days.. which wouldnt make much sense in her case because I've seen green urine before (I thought it was mixed with poop and thats why it looked that color) but that's been well over a month ago, and if she was that far into the disease I wouldnt think she would show more signs. I don't know what to think =/ I hope its not this FIP like disease..
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Post by miamiferret2 on Jun 14, 2011 14:02:42 GMT -5
oh my lord. how could your ferret have contracted this?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2011 14:08:20 GMT -5
Oh no I truly hope it's not what she has! You're right though, that does seem like a bit of a severe diagnosis to jump to right off the bat. Is this your regular vet? Are they normally pretty good/experienced with ferrets? And you have to wonder about the so-called specialist too After working in the veterinary field for the past couple years, I've honestly come to believe people need to stop trusting their vets so much. They are human, and they are only so knowledgeable too. You pretty much should always question everything. I've seend misdiagnoses and missed diagnoses in the clinic I work in for sure. In all honesty, I'd want a second, and even a third opinion.
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Post by acodlin on Jun 14, 2011 14:33:48 GMT -5
I live in a pretty rural area of southern indiana. There isnt alot of options for me vet wise, he has ferret experience, has done surgeries.. but very knowledgeable? no I don't think so. He is my regular vet for ferrets and he does his best I believe. I do like him.
I'm not sure how she would have gotten this disease, I don't think its known how its transmitted or if its contagious.. if it is then it would be too late, she's with the other ferrets all the time and I'm not going to take her away from them now.
I'll just try to stay positive and hope that it's something else that will be revealed through blood work. I've seen everything from liver infection to heart worms and liver cancer causing green urine with bilirubin in it. There is suppose to be a ferret health department at MSU that is studying the FIP like virus so I may try to get the phone number to take with me so he can contact them with lab results to compare with them.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2011 17:04:50 GMT -5
How elevated were her bilirubin levels? Liver malfunction seems like a more logical first diagnosis than FIP
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Post by acodlin on Jun 14, 2011 17:31:51 GMT -5
Well he didnt draw labs yesterday, just collected urine. He said there was small amounts of bilirubin in the urine. He didnt say how much. We go back next monday to have blood drawn. I'm guessing he's using the diagnosis because of her weight (739 grams) however she's been thin since last fall, and because this disease causes abdominal masses, he thought her spleen was enlarged but he said it could be some other kind of mass he's feeling. It could still be her spleen though and something else going on liver wise. It doesnt seem very good no matter what, if its liver cancer and contained to a lobe or two and not spread we could take it out and she could be fine. If its lymphoma then we all know theres no real hope for that. I've been prepared for adrenal disease, insulinoma, lymphoma with some of my ferrets.. but not some rare crazy disease. I guess i've been spoiled, I've had pets all my life and they've always died of old age till I got ferrets
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2011 19:00:32 GMT -5
I am so sorry to see this - I had a similar experience last year- a boy named Otis. ( His liver failed due to big C) he was only 2 years old . It turned out to be fatal so i pray for you & your girl. Wish i had better news to share -please love her as much as possible and do what you can to make her life happily spoiled until you have a diagnosis for sure. Here is a pic of his urine as it got darker & darker green- over the course of about 2 months. This was his urine near the end
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Post by Deleted on Jun 14, 2011 21:09:36 GMT -5
Ferrets can get hepatobiliary infections that can clear up with antibiotics. An enlarged spleen would not be out of line with infection. Gallbladders can get enlarged as well.
The only thing that's known for sure is that there's most likely something going on with the liver/gallbladder. Blood work with chem. panel should be done.
The FIP-like corona virus in ferrets is believed to be transmitted via the oral/fecal route. If you ferret has been around other ferret, I would think that at least one other ferret would be coming up with issues as well.
It is possible for ferret to get coccidial infections in the liver as well. More tests need to be done before you can know what is going on.
Sending ferret prayer and good thoughts your way...let's hope for infection that can be treated with antibiotics.
-jennifer
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Post by Heather on Jun 15, 2011 0:25:02 GMT -5
A healing candle is lit...please keep us posted. Fingers are crossed that this indeed a bacterial infection, the alternative isn't pleasant to contemplate ciao
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Post by acodlin on Jun 20, 2011 17:34:53 GMT -5
Blood was drawn today. The vet is still stuck on the FIP thing saying infections wouldnt cause green urine. She hasnt had green urine in a few days now.. He did a CBC/chem panel comprehensive work up and he said hes looking for high proteins and high globulin levels to support the diagnosis but he still said she would need a biposy to confirm anything. Should know results tomarrow =/
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Post by Sherry on Jun 20, 2011 19:26:45 GMT -5
Fingers crossed!
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