Dear X: You should have no guilt on this one.  If the diagnosis was truly
immune-mediate anemia, it is one of the least understood diseases
affecting ferrets today, and one that carries the poorest prognosis.
Immune-medicated hemolytic anemias in ferrets arise for unknown reasons,
and commonly appear so quickly, that significant loss of blood cell mass
occurs before any signs are noticed.  A ferret can actually digest its
red blood cells to a life-threatening level within 72 hours.
 
The treatment for this condition is heavy immunesuppression with
corticosteroids and even stronger medications, and it is rarely rewarding.
 
The use of oxyglobin in this case shows the levels that you went to save
her.  However, synthetic hemoglobins are best employed when an insult has
passed and the body just needs support until its marrow regenerative
capacity kicks in.  When used in the face of a hemolytic crisis, it simply
affords the animal a little more time.  Very few cases of hemolytic anemia
in ferrets ever show a regenerative response.
 
I am sorry for your loss - but you should rest easier in knowing that the
vast majority of AIHA cases in ferret don't respond to anything (or at
least we're still trying to find something that works well on them....
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
 
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[Posted in FML issue 3452]