Intervertebral disk prolapse and diskospondylitis in a horse

Intervertebral disk prolapse was diagnosed in a mature horse with clinical signs of caudal ataxia. Radiography and myelography demonstrated a collapsed intervertebral space and loss of the dorsal and ventral dye columns. Results of CSF analysis were normal, as were a CBC and serum biochemical profile. High CSF WBC count and high CSF creatine kinase activity were noticed following acute neurologic deterioration. While common in certain breeds of dogs, intervertebral disk prolapse is rarely reported in horses. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of horses with caudal ataxia.     

Intervertebral disk disease in 10 cats.

The medical records of 10 cats diagnosed with intervertebral disk disease were reviewed. No apparent sex or breed predilection was found. The mean age of cats in the study was 9.8 years. Clinical signs included back pain, difficulty ambulating, and incontinence. Radiographs revealed narrowed disk spaces, mineralized intervertebral disks, and evidence of extradural compression on myelography or computed tomography. All intervertebral disk herniations occurred in the thoracolumbar spine, with a peak incidence at the fourth to fifth lumbar (L4-L5) intervertebral disk space. Eight cats had Hansen's type I intervertebral disk herniation. Surgery was performed in seven cats. All cats judged to have an excellent outcome had undergone surgical decompression.     

Successful medical management of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapse in a ferret

Thoracolumbar disc herniation was diagnosed in a two-year-old ferret using a myelogram followed by a computed tomography scan. The ferret was paraplegic with no control over urination and defecation. Conservative treatment that included cage rest and passive range of motion exercises for three weeks followed by extensive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy resulted in full recovery two months after the onset of treatment. Although intervertebral disc disease has been reported previously in four ferrets, this is the first report in which a postmyelogram computed tomography was used to demonstrate the herniated disc, and physiotherapy was used as principal treatment modality.     

Pyloric adenocarcinoma in a ferret.

Pyloric adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in a ferret with clinical signs of gastric distention. The development of this tumor may be related to Helicobacter mustelae infection in the gastric mucosa of ferrets. Pyloric adenocarcinoma has only recently been reported in ferrets and should be considered as a differential diagnosis for gastric distention in this species.     

Hyperadrenocorticism in a ferret

A 7-year-old adult male ferret had progressive hair loss that was bilaterally symmetric. Also clinically evident were severe dehydration, polydipsia, muffled heart sounds, weak femoral pulses, hepatomegaly, lethargy, weakness, temporal muscular atrophy, dyspnea, and weakness. The blood profile of the ferret indicated profound leukopenia, eosinopenia, and high phosphorus, BUN, creatinine, and potassium concentrations, as well as high aspartate transaminase activity; the albumin concentration was low. The serum cortisol concentration was 8.1 micrograms/dl. Necropsy and histologic findings confirmed a diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism, complicated by dilatative cardiomyopathy, chronic active hepatitis, and renal disease.     

Blastomycosis in a ferret

An 18-month-old female ferret with an ulcerated metacarpal pad and signs of respiratory illness was diagnosed as having blastomycosis by visualization of organisms on a tissue imprint, an agarose gel immunodiffusion test, and thoracic radiography. The ferret was treated intravenously with amphotercin B at 0.4 to 0.8 mg/kg and orally with ketoconazole at 8 mg/kg for approximately 1 month, during which time clinical and radiographic improvement was noted. A change to SC amphoterocin B therapy resulted in relapse of clinical signs despite continuation of ketoconazole therapy, and necessitated euthanasia. Necropsy revealed granulomatous lesions typical of Blastomyces dermatitidis infection in the lungs, thoracic pleura, spleen, meninges, and brain. Comparisons between this case and canine blastomycosis cases are made and alternative treatment regimes for mustelid blastomycosis are suggested.     

Insulinoma in a ferret

Insulinoma was diagnosed in a 7-year-old female ferret examined because of generalized seizures, intermittent paraplegia, and abnormal behavior. Low serum glucose, high serum insulin, and infinite amended insulin/glucose ratio values in this ferret supported the clinical diagnosis of insulinoma. Histologic examination of the pancreas confirmed the diagnosis of insulinoma. The clinical signs and laboratory evaluations in this case and in a previously reported case of insulinoma in a ferret were consistent with variations reported in dogs with insulinoma.     

Polycystic kidneys in a ferret

Polycystic kidneys were found at necropsy in an adult ferret with a history of seizures and a palpable abdominal mass. Both kidneys contained numerous fluid-filled cysts of various sizes. The ferret may provide an animal model for the study of polycystic disease in man.     

Pregnancy toxemia in a ferret

A late-gestation jill was presented for depression, anorexia, and weakness. The working diagnosis became pregnancy toxemia. Supportive care was initiated and an emergency cesarian section performed. Twelve live kits were delivered; however, all soon perished despite home care. Surgery and recovery are discussed, including information regarding pregnancy toxemia in general.     

Recurrent adenocarcinoma in a ferret

A 4.5-year-old, neutered male ferret with a history of recurrent adenocarcinoma in the preputial region was given 2 radiation treatment courses designed to control the rapidly growing neoplasm. The tumor regressed completely after the first 3.5-week course of therapy. The ferret remained clinically disease-free for 4 months, at which time small masses were noticed in the inguinal area and the original tumor site. A second course of therapy was administered, which again resulted in complete clinical regression of the neoplasm. However, the duration of remission was brief. Local recurrence and abdominal metastasis were observed within 2 months of the completion of therapy.     

Renal adenocarcinoma in a ferret

A spontaneous case of renal tumor was observed in a 7-year-old ovariectomized female pet ferret (Mustela putorius furo). Clinical signs included exhaustion, emaciation, anorexia, and stooping position. At necropsy, a solid and cystic mass replaced the left kidney and adrenal gland. The tumor was composed of pleomorphic epithelial cells with a large number of giant cells. Metastases were recognized in the lung, liver, greater omentum, right renal pelvis, and systemic lymph nodes. Immunohistochemical stains revealed that the tumor cells were positive for CD10, cytokeratin (CAM 5.2), and Ki-67 (MIB-1). On the basis of morphologic and immunohistochemical features, the tumor was diagnosed as a pleomorphic renal adenocarcinoma. This type of neoplasm is very rare in all species and has never been reported in a ferret.     

Suspected pseudohypoparathyroidism in a domestic ferret

A 1.5-year-old ferret examined because of seizures was found to have low serum calcium, high serum phosphorus, and extremely high serum parathyroid hormone concentrations. Common causes of these abnormalities, including nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism, chronic renal secondary hyperparathyroidism, tumor lysis syndrome, and hypomagnesemia, were ruled out, and a tentative diagnosis of pseudohypoparathyroidism was made. Pseudohypoparathyroidism is a hereditary condition in people that, to our knowledge, has not been identified in ferrets previously and is caused by a lack of response to high serum parathyroid hormone concentrations, rather than a deficiency of this hormone. The ferret improved after treatment with dihydrotachysterol (a vitamin D analog) and calcium carbonate. It was still doing well after 3.5 years of continued treatment.     

Acute ibuprofen toxicosis in a ferret

A 20-month-old 1.44-kg (3.2-lb) castrated male ferret was examined because of vomiting, defecating in an abnormal location, dyspnea, and signs of depression. Within 5 minutes of initial evaluation, the ferret became nonresponsive to all stimuli except deep pain. Despite intensive supportive treatment, the ferret died. Toxicologic analyses for ibuprofen were performed on serum, urine, and liver, using gas chromatography and mass spectrophotometry. Serum ibuprofen concentrations were 245 micrograms/g before and 269 micrograms/g after death. Acute ibuprofen toxicosis may cause severe lethargy progressing to coma, apnea, and death in ferrets. Ibuprofen toxicosis should be considered in differential diagnoses for ferrets with signs of depression, with or without clinical signs of gastrointestinal tract dysfunction.     

Cryptococcus gattii chorioretinitis in a ferret

Bilateral exudative chorioretinitis was diagnosed in an 18‐month‐old male neutered ferret (Mustela putorius furo) with a generalized Cryptococcus gattii infection confirmed by PCR. The animal was referred to the Ophthalmology Service of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (VTH‐UAB) for acute onset blindness. Complete ophthalmic examination revealed absent menace response and dazzle reflex in both eyes (OU), as well as subretinal edema located in the tapetal fundus. At that time, the clinical ophthalmologic diagnosis was bilateral exudative chorioretinitis. Treatment with prednisone (0.5 mg/kg PO q24 h) was instituted in addition to the ongoing treatment with fluconazole (10 mg/kg PO q24 h). The following rechecks revealed secondary cataracts with subsequent lens subluxation and panretinal degeneration OU. Despite being blind and the poor prognosis of disseminate cryptococcosis, the patient remained active and in good body condition during 6 months after the initial diagnosis. At that time, the ferret showed ataxia, incontinence, and generalized pain. A magnetic resonance imaging study revealed a mass affecting the spine. The owners declined further investigations and the ferret was humanely euthanized. The postmortem histopathology confirmed the initial diagnosis of cryptococcosis and the presence of intraretinal Cryptococcus spp. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of Cryptococcus spp. induced exudative chorioretinitis in a ferret.