From:
dbrn2@aol.com
Date: 2001-05-25 17:14:00 UTC
Subject: Re: insulinoma surgery outcomes
I have a 3.5 year old male MF ferret who had the following surgeries performed on March 22: left adrenalectomy, partial pancreatectomy with 15-20% loss due to insulinomas, and partial liver resection. He was up eating and pooping the same night, a little wobbly, but up and about. He came home with me the same day, the vet actually had me leave my other ferret there the day of surgery to keep him company in his cage pre and post op.The non op ferret seemed to know instinctively that Boo Boo needed tender loving care, she would cuddle up with her front to his back, and was very careful not to touch his abdominal area.
Blood sugars have been stable since. He had a severe allergic reaction 3 days post op to amoxicillin which created a stress GI ulcer that we are still treating with Carafate and Flagyl. I have been hand feeding him Bob's chicken gravy since surgery because of ulcer, he has turned into monster ferret, weight went from 2 lbs even to 3 lbs 15 ounces since surgery. I've had to stop adding nutrical to the mix, or he'd be the size of a cat. Without the allergic reaction, he'd have been 100% better within 4 days of the surgery. All symptoms have been GI only since day 4 post op. This ferret has more stamina than either my husband or myself, when he goes out for walks, he tires out his humans.
Hope this helps.