title: Diagnosis and Management of Polycythemia Vera in a Ferret (Mustela putorius furo).
abstract: A 5-y-old female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated for diarrhea, anorexia, and lethargy for 1 wk. Only mild dehydration was detected on physical examination. CBC analysis revealed marked erythrocytosis with an unremarkable plasma biochemistry panel; follow-up CBC analyses revealed a consistent primary erythrocytosis. Whole-body radiographs and abdominal ultrasonography were unremarkable except for a small nephrolith in the right kidney and a small cyst in the left kidney. The plasma erythropoietin level was 17.0 mIU/mL and considered normal. In light of the diagnostic work-up and consistent erythrocytosis, a diagnosis of polycythemia vera (primary erythrocytosis) was made. The initial presentation of diarrhea resolved after treatment with oral metronidazole (20 mg/kg PO BID for 7 d). Treatment for the polycythemia consisted of a phlebotomy initially followed by chemotherapy with hydroxyurea (10 mg/kg PO BID). During the subsequent 12 mo, the hydroxyurea dose adjusted according to follow-up CBC results, and finding an optimal dosage regimen proved to be challenging. One year after the initial diagnosis, the ferret presented to an emergency clinic for acute and severe hemorrhagic diarrhea and died shortly thereafter. The postmortem diagnosis was acute venous infarction of the small and large intestine. To our knowledge, this report is the first to describe the diagnosis and long-term management of polycythemia vera in a ferret and the use of hydroxyurea for this purpose.
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Centre, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Current address: Sydney Exotics and Rabbit Vets, North Shore Veterinary Specialist Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Centre, Departments of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada;, Email: beaufrer@uoguelph.ca.
authors.forename: Hugues
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beaufrère
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Centre, Departments of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Bassel
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Centre, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Current address: Exotic Animal Care Centre, Pasadena, California.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Centre, Departments of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Laniesse
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Shauna L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Blois
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Centre, Departments of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Dale A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000097:blood; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005289:Ferrets; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018962:Phlebotomy / Q000662:veterinary; D011087:Polycythemia Vera / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011859:Radiography / Q000662:veterinary; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004921:Erythropoietin; D006918:Hydroxyurea