Pet Problems - October 11
My 6 year old ferret has suddenly become lethargic and last night had some kind of fit, what could be going on?
One of the more common causes of seizures in ferrets particularly older ferrets would be a tumour of the insulin secreting cells of the pancreas, or an insulinoma. This tumour produces excess insulin which lowers blood glucose to a dangerously low level starving the brain of sugar and causing seizures and lethargy. Some tumours are amenable to surgery if diagnosed early. Surgery can also aid the success of medical management which involves steroids and regular feeding.
My Old English Sheep dog “Henry” has started taking a long time to urinate, he’ s not been castrated could it be his prostate?
Benign prostatic enlargement is certainly a common cause of an entire male dog struggling to urinate. A dog with an enlarged prostate will usually urinate in “fits and starts” rather than urinating in a long continuous stream, and will tend not to empty its bladder fully, hence the need to urinate more frequently. Note- this is not the same as a male dog marking successive lamp posts whilst on a walk which in some dogs is considered to be normal (all be it frustrating) behaviour! An enlarged prostate more often than not can be felt on a clinical examination by your vet. Ultrasound is also very useful in characterising the appearance of the prostate, bladder and regional lymph nodes. Prostatic enlargement can be treated medically by a drug which prevents the effects of testosterone (male hormone) on the prostate, or surgically by castration.
Other potential causes of male dogs struggling to urinate include bladder stones, polyps, tumours of the urinary system, dysfunction of the muscle in the bladder wall, or neurological problems associated with disc disease or advanced osteoarthritis.
My five year old Labrador “Mike” has slowed down recently, he doesn’t seem as active on a walk as he used to be and he’s put on a little bit of weight- is there any reason for this? He’s not that old?!
Having excluded orthopaedic problems such as arthritis of the hips, elbows and back pain, and also cardiovascular problems such as heart and respiratory disease, which may all contribute to exercise intolerance, the next step would be to run some routine bloods and check Mike’s thyroid levels. Hypothyroidism or a low circulation of thyroid hormone is quite common in Labradors and can result in lethargy, poor exercise tolerance, weight gain (despite no increase in food intake) and skin and ear problems. Thyroid hormones are responsible for controlling metabolic rate, regulate fat metabolism, are essential for normal growth, and are involved in the growth phase of the hair cycle. Young to middle aged large breed dogs (especially Retrievers, Dobermans, and Irish Setters) tend to be affected. Your vet may send blood off to an external lab for a “thyroid panel” which will give information about the state of your dog’s thyroid. Treatment is simple and involves supplementation with artificial thyroid hormone and repeat blood tests to ensure adequate control.
If your pet has been affected by any of the above issues please make an appointment to see your vet or if in any doubt ring 01792 205000 or visit the St James Vet Groups website for some advice.
Geraint Jones
St James Veterinary Group
