Aims.

The diagnosis of hypoglycemia in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) is based on the detection of a blood glucose level below 60-70 mg / dl. A blood glucose concentration below these levels is very suggestive of pancreatic beta cell tumor (insulinoma), which comprises of approximately 25% of all neoplasms diagnosed in this species. This study aims to check if the low blood glucose values obtained through the use of portable glucometers are reliable as a method of diagnosing hypoglycemia in this species.

Material and methods.

In this study, 31 samples of ferrets blood of different ages and sexes are analyzed, using three types of portable glucometers, comparing these results with the measurements obtained by a liquid biochemistry analyzer using the glucose oxidase method, considered as one of the standard measurement methods.

Results.

One of the three glucometers used in this study underestimates blood glucose values in this species, while another overestimates them, which is a systematic error (predictable) of the equipment that could be solved by calibrating them for this species. The other glucometer is more consistent with the reference values, but has a high random error (unpredictable), that is more difficult to correct. Therefore none of the three teams would be adequate to make a reliable diagnosis of hypoglycemia in ferrets.

Conclusions.

These results indicate that blood glucose concentrations in ferrets should be confirmed with a validated laboratory analyzer to reliably diagnose hypoglycemia, and blood glucose meters used only to monitor the disease.

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