From:
Mike Janke
Date: 2001-03-27 21:11:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Insulinoma or Adrenal
If you've noticed a change in behavior, that's a real good reason to
take her into a vet. An owner is in the best position to notice
subtle changes that indicate something is going on.
Shaking when they wake up is pretty normal, but some of the other
signs do sound like insulinoma is at least a possibility. Any vet
can do a simple fasting blood glucose test. They don't have to be an
expert with ferrets. Anything below 70mg/dl is probably a good
indicator that insulinomas are present. Two years is a little young
for this, but definitely not rare. While it wouldn't hurt to make
sure she's eating and adding a little high protein feeding, she still
needs to see a vet.
Some ferrets just seem to be itchy, so as to whether or not this is
an indicator that adrenal disease is brewing is hard to say. If
she's much more itchy than previously, I'd be suspicious.
Mike
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Kris/Ski" <Ski2135@a...> wrote:
> I have 4 ferrets, the one I am concerned about will be 2 in April?
(I
> believe) She is a Silver,MF. She has always been rather heavy
untill
> just recentely. I purchased a baby ferret in November, and she
plays
> with him quite often, so this is why I thought she was loosing
> weight. As I said just within the past 3 weeks I have noticed her
> loosing weight. She is eating good, and seems to have energy untill
a
> few days ago. This is when I noticed that she is sleeping more
often,
> and seems to be scratching herself all over, and seems "weeker" as
> she use to get into the bathtub (no water) and play, now she has a
> hard time getting in and out, where before it was no problem.
> I have been reading up on the symptoms of Adrenial, and Insulinima,
> and some of the symptoms are simular for instance the symptoms I
see
> are, Adrenal...Itchiness, Anemia/Insulinoma...Weakness, Dazed and
> confused look, Lethargy, Tremors, (she shakes when she wakes up, I
do
> not know if this is considered tremors, or just cold), Loss of
> coordination, Rear leg weakness, Weight loss. These are some of the
> symptoms I see now. She has not lost any fur has not become
> aggressive or anything else.
> I am going to make some chicken gravy as a book I am reading
suggests
> that, and see how this works. One problem here is I do not feel
> comfortable with my vet, I have one other option with another vet,
> but I am not shure how they are with ferrets. I have checked out
some
> web sites that suggest vets in my area, and can not find anything.
I
> am scared to death that she may have either one of these diseases
and
> that I do not have a proper vet to treat this.
> Another thing is maybe she is OK and this is just a stage she is
> going through? I just don't know.
> Suggestions please,
> Kris