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Ferret Medicine Flashcards

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1
Q

Average lifespan

A

5-7 years in US; can go up to 12 (Europe)

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2
Q

Common ferret diseases

A
  • neoplasia (insulinoma)
  • influenza
  • ferret enteric coronavirus
  • canine distemper virus
  • rabies
  • fleas
  • ear mites
  • heartworm
  • foreign bodies
  • helicobacter
  • IBD
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3
Q

Neoplasms most commonly affect ______

A

endocrine system

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4
Q

Most common neoplasm in ferrets

A

pancreatic islet cell tumor (insulinomas)

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5
Q

Second most common neoplasms in ferrets

A

adrenocortical

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6
Q

Most common hematopoietic neoplasm in ferrets

A

lymphoma

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7
Q

____% of ferrets have multiple tumor types

A

12-20%

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8
Q

What tumors occur together most often in ferrets?

A

insulinoma & adrenocortical carcinoma

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9
Q

Difference between dogs/cats and ferrets regarding insulinoma

A

in ferrets, insulinoma not highly metastatic and responds well to long term medical management

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10
Q

Recurrence rate of insulinomas

A

up to 40% within 10 months

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11
Q

Neuro signs associated with insulinoma

A

ataxia, disassociation, seizures, coma

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12
Q

Survival times for different treatment methods of insulinoma

A
  • partial pancreactomy: over 300 d
  • nodulectomy: can be over 200 d
  • only medical: 22-186 d
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13
Q

Medical treatment for insulinoma

A
  • 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
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14
Q

Pathogenesis of adrenocortical neoplasms

A

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

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15
Q

Clinical signs of adrenocortical neoplasia

A

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
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16
Q

Diagnosing adrenocortical neoplasia

A
  • 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

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17
Q

Flutamide-mechanism of action

A

inhibit androgen uptake and binding

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18
Q

Finasteride-mechanism of action

A

androgen formation blocker

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19
Q

Medical treatment of adrenocortical neoplasms is only useful for _____________

A

managing symptoms

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20
Q

Depot lupron-mechanism of action

A

GnRH analog

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21
Q

What is Depot lupron good for/not good for?

A

hyperplasia; not so much for carcinoma

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22
Q

Deslorelin-mechanism of action

A

GnRH agonist

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23
Q

Treatment of choice for adrenocortical neoplasia

A

surgery-debulk/remove affected glands

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24
Q

Describe NORMAL adrenal glands in ferret

A

white-pink; 2-3 mm wide x 6-8 mm long

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25
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
26
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
27
Most common malignancy in the ferret
lymphoma
28
lymphoblastic vs. lymphocytic lymphoma in ferrets
* lymphoblastic(juvenile): ferrets \<2-3 years * lymphocytic: ferrets \> 3 years
29
Clinical signs-lymphoma
non-specific; can present with respiratory concerns due to enlarged thymus
30
Stage 1 lymphoma
tumor only involves a single site
31
Stage 2 lymphoma
multiple sites involved on same side of diaphragm
32
Stage 3 lymphoma
spleen and lymph nodes on both sides of diaphragm involved
33
Stage 4 lymphoma
multiple sites on both sides of diaphragm affected
34
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.
35
What form of influeza is less pathogenic to ferrets?
Type B
36
Virulence of influenza depends on \_\_\_\_\_\_
subtype (alters virulence and chances of secondary bacterial infections)
37
Clinical signs-influenza
* lethargy * anorexia * +/- photophobia and/or conjunctivitis * +/- pyrexia
38
How long does influenza typically affect ferrets?
5-7 days; up to 14 days
39
What is the usefulness of aminophylline?
bronchodilator-can give to ferrets with influenza
40
Canine distemper is caused by what type of virus?
Morbillivirus
41
Canine distemper-incubation time
7-10 days
42
Clinical signs-canine distemper
* papular dermatitis followe by swelling, crusting * other: anorexia, depression, dyspnea, pyrexia, photophobia, pruritus, blepharospasm, mucopurulent ocular and nasal discharge
43
Dx of canine distemper
PCR, necropsy, histology
44
Treatment of canine distemper?
* NONE; death in 12-31 days (wild canine strains) and 12-16 days (ferret-adapted strain) * euthanasia
45
Rabies vaccine for ferrets
Merial Imrab3
46
Treatment of fleas in ferrets
* **NO PYRETHRINS, OPs, or CARBAMATES** * **safe:** Frontline, Advantage II, Revolution * feline doses * Tx environment
47
Ear mite spp. in ferrets
*Otodectes cynotis* | (Same as dogs and cats)
48
Tx of ear mites
* Ivermectin SQ q14d for 3-4 treatments * Revolution topically 1/2 dose in each ear
49
Heartworm microfilaria are present in \_\_\_\_\_\_% of ferrets
50-60
50
How do ferrets with heartworm present?
hypothermic; sudden death
51
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
52
HW prevention
* Ivermectin * Heartgard: 1/4 of smallest tablet; cannot keep the rest * Selamectin topically * Milbemycin oxime-orally
53
Risk factors for gastric/duodenal ulcers in ferrets
* *Helicobacter mustelae* * neoplasia * foreign bodies * toxins * NSAIDs * renal azotemia
54
Treatment of gastritis
* nutritional support * +/- fluids * amoxicillin and metronidazole 14-21 days * bismuth or proton pump inhibitor
55
Gastritis may lead to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_
adenocarcinoma or lymphoma
56
IBD can look like what else?
* eosinophilic gastroenteritis, viral diarrhea (coronavirus), dietary indiscretion, helicobacter
57
IBD treatment
* dietary management, +/- corticosteroids, Azathioprine
58
Parvovirus in ferrets causes\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Aleutian disease
59
Most common causes of enlarged spleen in ferrets
Hemangioma, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma
60
Clinical signs of hyperestrogenism
* anorexia * lethargy * vulvar swelling/discharge * pallor * systolic murmur
61
What is the cause of death in ferrets with hyperestrogenism?
hemorrage secondary to thrombocytopenia
62
Early/Late clin path findings with hyperestrogenism
Early: * thrombocytosis * neutrophilicc leukocytosis Later: * nonregenerative anemia * nucleated RBCs * neutropenia * thrombocytopenia
63
Clinical signs of hyperestrogenism
melena, petechial/ecchymotic hemorrhages, dorsal bilateral symmetric alopecia, concurrent metritis, pyometra or vaginitis, pelvic limb paresis, ataxia, paralysis(subdural hematoma)
64
Do ferrets have blood groups?
NOPE-can do multiple transfusions without concern

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