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Post by autumnm on Jul 17, 2018 20:41:46 GMT -5
I took my 6 year old ferret Ruby to the vet to have a blood test done because i read that they need one done every 6 months after they are so old. A few things came back high and low and my vet isnt being very helpful so I'm taking her to a new vet in a week but I was hoping someone could help me understand the test better and maybe some thing that could be possibly causing this. MCH is 18.3 RDW is 16.3% GLOB is 4.2 g/dl Alt is 370 U/l ALKP is 130 U/l
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Jul 18, 2018 4:00:37 GMT -5
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Post by Blue on Jul 18, 2018 10:33:21 GMT -5
I stole this from Sherry in another thread! miamiferret.org/physiology.htmI don't know if complete bloodwork needs to be done every 6 months. Her blood glucose, yes. |
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Post by Heather on Jul 18, 2018 17:00:34 GMT -5
I don't usually have a full CBC done every 6 months in a senior but then I don't classify 6 as senior. Sedation is usually required and I will not subject my ferrets to sedation at that level.
BG tested especially if it's low normal yes.
Katt would be the best to get to respond to this
ciao
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Post by Blue on Jul 18, 2018 21:00:23 GMT -5
You need sedation for a CBC? I think my vet does a complete workup without sedation, but maybe it's not as complete as I thought? I know they go straight to the jugular for that amount of blood, so maybe an especially wriggly ferret might need it? OK, found a printout. It lists 24 different cell types (white blood cells, lymphocytes, platelets...) with 3 graphs, and 16 elements like glucose, albumine, creatine, phosporus, calcium, etc. I think I saw the amount of blood they take out for that; it's scary. I don't think I've seen any side effects like extra tiredness, but it might be too subtle for me to pick up on. autumnm according to the webpage I gave earlier: Your MCH seems to be in the normal range (15.5-19.0) I couldn't find RDW but Maisie's is 17.7%, so pretty close to yours Couldn't find ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase) except the normal range: 13-176 (IU/L). Apparently in humans, high values might mean liver damage, which is also what the ALKP is showing. Sorry. I don't know what that means in a ferret. Hopefully it's not a big deal. Tell Ruby to stop drinking  |
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Post by autumn on Jul 18, 2018 22:59:12 GMT -5
Should I not get blood work done? Thats just what I read on a couple vet websites. I have another ferret and if I shouldn't get it done then I don't want to.
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Post by Blue on Jul 18, 2018 23:48:54 GMT -5
I'd say get blood glucose checked regularly, and CBC only when there's a concern. Or maybe once a year. It's really whatever you and your vet feel comfortable with.
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Post by Sherry on Jul 19, 2018 9:56:53 GMT -5
TBH I'd have a CBC done as a baseline, and then again only if there are concerns. I do test for bg at home, but you can also get it done every 6m at the vet. I don't consider 6 to be a senior either.
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