>I have been told that a Dr. Kawasaki apparently gave a talk at the St.
>Louis Symposium about how he has seen several cases of sudden kidney
>failure in ferrets, and somehow linked them to raisins.  I don't know
>as there isn't anything at all published about his talk, or anything
>else on it with ferrets.
 
"a" Dr. Kawasaki "apparently"  ???????????
 
That second post to which the person above referred was from Danee who is
well known as the Health Issues Coordinator of the International Ferret
Congress.  Please, re-read her post.  Heck, feel free to re-read mine.
 
Dr. Tom Kawasaki has been well known in helping advance ferret health
knowledge for at least 15 years.  He is hardly "a".  He is very well
informed, always learning, and he carefully checks things before making
statements so you can be sure that the nature of the kidney damage was
well compared to that known to be caused in dogs.
 
Nor was his talk "apparently" given.  It was given and it qualified for
continuing education credits for the attending veterinarians, though the
official topic was eyes and hearts.  The IFC symposia are very important
venues for ferret information.
 
*****Now, there IS an IMPORTANT qualifier here.  I have been reminded
that this was NOT part of his official talk, nor part of the transcripts
as a result*****, but I have been told by numerous people that he did
bring it up publicly at the symposium, so you will find that a number
of people here heard it because some of them will be the same ones who
let me know that he mentioned it there.
 
Bottom line: I trust his level of work, and I trust the people who have
mentioned it.  Besides, in my files I have a note from him from 2004
which was kindly forwarded to me by Danee speaking about those ferrets.
One even had "a blood urea nitrogen over 300".
 
The ASPCA write-up is old.  I have been informed by someone who had to
call one of them (but I don't know if it was Angell or ASPCA) that when
people call at least one of the poison control centers they are currently
advised to use the same sorts of kidney cautions about large numbers of
raisins or grapes with ferrets and cats as are used for dogs.  That was
the first I'd heard of anyone saying it for cats with any reference
mentioned.
 
As to whether, when, or where he plans to publish: I don't know.  He's
not me and I have no control over his actions or choices, nor should I.
For all that I know he may figure that people listen and learn and then
word spreads.  Personally, I strongly hope that he publishes and i always
prefer that, but I DO know his background of advancing ferret veterinary
knowledge, I DO know how careful he is, and I DO trust his abilities.
So when he says that kidney damage can occur in ferrets who have a large
number of raisins and grapes at one time he is one of the people whose
expert advice I am personally very willing to accept.  Do I think that
it will happen in all?  Of course not.  Few things in this world ever do.
Do I know how hard it can be to save a ferret whose kidneys are in grave
danger.  Yep, and I don't want to ever have one face that again.
 
Do NOT assume that careful work has not been done simply because you
don't know enough (or anything) about the investigating vet.  That is
an entirely unfair assumption to make about someone.  Assuming the
worst automatically about anyone is not a kind nor valid approach, and
automatically assuming the worst is entirely out of place and sounds
downright petty when the individual has such a strong history of
improving ferret medical care as Dr. Kawasaki has.  Automatically
assuming the worst about people is not the right way to approach anyone
and should not be a person's preferred default mode when clarification
is desired because it not only needlessly hurts others but it blows up
in the face of any person who repeatedly uses it.
 
And now a personal note.  Between doing my work and much of the work for
a dear friend while he needs it, and having influenza I am downright
tired.  If people can't recognize that when someone is tired to the bone
a little gentleness is warranted i will have to concentrate this portion
of my energies elsewhere for a while just to give myself a break from
uncalled for nastiness.  Once people actually try it is very easy to
disagree without being rude.  I personally am just too danged tired for
rudeness right now, let alone nastiness.
 
Do you want to see how people can disagree but still care about each
other?  Look at the conversation between Shirley and me.  We disagree but
we have done so with long-standing mutual respect and without assuming
the worst, let along stating anything nasty about or toward each other,
or being snide.  Her kindness in that regard means a lot to me.  I know
and I understand that she is personally satisfied from her experiences,
and she knows that I prefer to wait for more data that separates out the
threads and investigates them more, and I believe that she understands
that about me.  Different lifestyles, different personalities, both
people able to understand that and behave with respect... Sometimes
people who disagree can still trust each other or even consider each
other friends, and other times they can disagree but be mature about it
and avoid rudeness.  Anyone at anytime can be considerate toward another
or notice when a little extra gentleness will go a long way; all it
takes is the willingness to do so.
 
-- Sukie (not a vet)
Ferret Health List co-moderator
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives fan
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
replacing
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
International Ferret Congress advisor
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 5189]