http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL5714 >Hopefully your little girl will not need Epogen or Arimidex. Lupron >and melatonin should lower the estrogen level, and melatonin helps to >stimulate the bone marrow to make red blood cells. Thus you may not >need any additional medications for her. > >Epogen is used to stimulate the bone marrow to make more red blood >cells. Arimidex is used to lower the estrogen level. They are >basically added to the treatment when Lupron and melatonin cannot >control the estrogen level, and the ferret has anemia from the >elevated estrogen level. > >Epogen is an injectable product with a suggestive dose of 100 to 200 >units/kg SC to start with, then reduce as the PCV improves. > >Arimidex is an oral medication with a suggestive dose of 0.1 mg/kg >once a day. > >Hope that helps, >Jerry Murray, DVM http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG15827 >Anemia in ferrets with adrenal gland disease is a result of the high >estrogen levels. Therefore to treat anemia from adrenal gland disease, >you must lower the estrogen level. This can be done with several >medications, and in cases with severe anemia several medications >should be used together. Lupron is the first medication. It stops the >stimulation to the adrenal gland(s), so the adrenal gland(s) produces >less estrogen. > >Arimidex is an aromatase inhibitor, so it stops the production of >estrogen from estrogen precursors and prevents other hormones (such >as DHEAS, ANDRO, and TESTOSTERONE) from being converted to estrogen. >Melatonin also stops the stimulation to the adrenal gland, can work >as an aromatase inhibitor, AND stimulates the bone marrow to produce >red blood cells. Epogen and Procrit also stimulate the bone marrow >to make more red blood cells. Pet tinic can be used too. This liquid >supplements iron and B vitamins to help the bone marrow make more red >blood cells. > >Casodex is not used for estrogen induced bone marrow toxicity. Casodex >is a receptor blocker for androgen (DHT) receptors. It is used >primarily in cases of male ferrets with prostate problems, and in case >with return of sexual behavior or aggressive behavior. If the andro >level is really elevated in a female ferret, it may help some, but it >is used mostly in male ferrets. > >Hope that clears things up, >Jerry Murray, DVM http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG15755 >What you are describing is anemia and thrombocytopenia (the lack of >platelets to form blood clots) that caused the petechial hemorrhage >under the skin that you could see. The lack of platelets also caused >the bleeding from the injection. This is a very severe case of adrenal >gland disease that is producing large amounts of estrogen. The >estrogen is causing bone marrow toxicity and stopping the production >of red blood cells and platelets. This is common in intact female >ferrets that go into heat and stay in heat. Unfortunately it can and >does sometimes happen with adrenal gland disease. These case require >aggressive treatment with Lupron, Melatonin, and Arimidex. Some case >even need blood transfusions. Sorry to hear about your loss, but the >melatonin did not cause this problem. This was from the adrenal gland >disease and estrogen. > >Hope that helps, >Jerry Murray, DVM http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG14332 >Yes, Epogen and Procrit are the same drug. They are made by the same >company then marketed by 2 other companies. Yes, Epogen or Procrit >are used to stimulate the bone marrow to make red blood cells. > >If the anemia is from estrogen toxicity to the bone marrow then you >have to lower the estrogen level by using Lupron and/or Arimidex also. >Likewise melatonin should be used to help lower the estrogen level and >to stimulate the bone marrow. Hill's a/d or baby food can be used to >increase the appetite, and pet tinic can be used to raise the iron and >B vitamin levels. > >Hope that helps, >Jerry Murray, DVM Sukie (not a vet) Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html [Posted in FML 6155]