From:
Karen Purcell, DVM
Date: 2001-07-31 17:29:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Bilateral Adrenal
Katharine,
Your questions were: (answers will vary based on the vet involved)
> 1. What blood tests need to be run; i.e. what are
> we looking for to determine whether hormone levels
> are OK? When should this test(s) be run? Is it
> on a certain time frame? Seems like I remember
> reading that one test should be done pretty
> quickly after the surgery but that's the extent of
> my memory.
Cortisol levels, sodium and potassium. I like to have values within
1 week of surgery, I tend to be paranoid about Addison's (I've seen
more than a few).
>
> 2. What drugs are given to "fix" any problems
> resulting from both adrenal glands being removed?
Prednisone/prednisolone and Florinef/Percortin.
> Doc has Cedes on PediaPred over the course of
> about 45 days (twice a day for 5 days, once a day
> for 5 days, once every other day for the
> remainder). What is this for (I forgot to ask on
> the phone and he was in surgery when I picked
> Cedes up)? Should this be for the rest of his
> life (depending on the bloodwork results)?
Depends on the results, absolutely.
Dr.
> Williams mentioned in a post in March (see, I
> really did search the archives) that 25% will do
> fine on pred, 25% need pred and DOCP, and 50%
> don't need anything. How do you make this
> determination?
>
I'll leave that to Bruce.
Hope this helps,
-Dr. Karen
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