Background
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is probably underdiagnosed in ferrets. Laboratory data of ferrets with CKD are lacking and no staging or treatment guidelines are available in this species. The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential blood and urinary biomarkers beyond urea and creatinine in diagnosing CKD in ferrets.
Methods
A retrospective study using blood and urine results from ferret suspected of having clinical CKD as well as 60 clinically healthy pet ferrets in a private practice specializing in exotic animals was conducted. Selected variables related to renal function including red blood cell count, albumin, urea, creatinine, total calcium, inorganic phosphate (P), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), urine specific gravity (USG) and urine protein creatinine ratio (UPC ratio) were compared to a clinically healthy population. Diagnostic performance of serum urea, creatinine and SDMA were evaluated using receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves.
Results
Statistically significant differences were found between the results of the 2 groups for all variables except for P. Ferrets from both groups had lower serum creatinine (median 73 µmol/L; 0.82 mg/dL in the CKD and 40 µmol/L; 0.45 mg/dL in the healthy group) and SDMA (median 7.45 µg/dL in the CKD and 5.1 µg/dL in the healthy group) values than described in dogs and cats. Ferrets with suspected CKD exhibited lower USG (1018 ± 6.71) and higher UPC ratio (median 1.86) compared to healthy animals (1039 ± 12.67 and median 0.23). The diagnostic value of serum creatinine (AUC = 0.807) was higher than that of urea (AUC = 0.720) or of SDMA (AUC = 0.713) for detecting CKD based on ROC analysis.
Conclusions and clinical relevance
The use of species-specific reference intervals is mandatory to recognize mild changes in renal function in ferrets. Urinalysis, including the measurement of USG and UPC ratio, can facilitate the diagnosis of CKD and are recommended in all ferrets with suspected renal disease.
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