Re: Blood transfusion in a ferret

Lynn Broom — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:34:28 GMT

[quote user="Lynn Broom"] took blood at 0.5ml per kg[/quote]

Sorry meant 0.5ml per 100g.

Re: Blood transfusion in a ferret

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 23:07:11 GMT

Your other option to remember is that RBCs are absorbed whole from the peritoneal cavity. If you can sedate/gas down a donor then that route is available if slower onset.

Used in lambs

Re: Blood transfusion in a ferret

Lynn Broom — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:26:33 GMT

I had a female ferret brought in collapsed after giving birth. Was very pale and had a very low PCV (can't remember exact figure but about 10%) & I suspect she had an anaemia secondary to flea infestation (another of the ferrets was found dead with a very pale carcass at PM) which was exacerbated by the stress of giving birth. Money was a significant issue so the owner brought in another of his ferrets (a large hob) and I took blood at 0.5ml per kg mixed with some heparin (calculated based on that present in a blood transfusion bag for 500ml blood) and transfused the female slowly IV with a syringe. She made a full recovery. No other deaths once flea problem addressed. Don't know about blood groups and possible reactions but took the risk with this one on the basis that she and her kits were going to die otherwise.