Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Collapse and trouble breathing from low calcium in a lactating ferret
By Vicki Temple·Published in Companion Animal·2018·View original on Semantic Scholar →
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Original publication title: Hypocalcaemia (puerperal tetany, milk fever, eclampsia) in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)
- Species:
- rodent
Plain-English summary
A 2-year-old female ferret suddenly collapsed and had trouble breathing three weeks after giving birth. Tests showed she had very low calcium levels in her blood, a condition known as hypocalcaemia, which can happen in nursing animals. After receiving a calcium supplement called calcium gluconate, her symptoms completely resolved. This case highlights the importance of monitoring calcium levels in lactating ferrets to prevent serious health issues.
People also search for: ferret collapse after giving birth · ferret breathing problems treatment · hypocalcaemia in nursing ferrets
Abstract
Dyspnoea and/or collapse are not uncommon presenting signs for ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) brought in to the veterinary clinic. A 2-year-old female entire ferret was presented 3 weeks post-whelping with sudden onset collapse and dyspnoea. Blood glucose levels were found to be normal, however biochemistry analysis showed profound hypocalcaemia. Clinical signs resolved fully after the administration of calcium gluconate. This case report alerts the clinician to the clinical presentation and management of hypocalcaemia in the lactating ferret.
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Search related cases →Original publication on Semantic Scholar: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/fb29e3613cee01f781164ac823436c4c38f921cb