From:
Dianna Saenz
Date: 2001-08-21 15:46:00 UTC
Subject: RE: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: Adrenal & partial
pancreatectomy... pot op questions Looking for Vet Replys as well.
Hi all,
I had my little rescue Lucious in to have adrenal surgery on the 3rd of
July. Since then she has been doing great. It was touch and go because she
had the left removed, the right cryoed and some removed along with her vena
cava being ligated. She was touch and go the first week, my vet is AWESOME,
accolades go out to Dr. T & L Gates. They kept her there for 6 days until
they were sure she was out of the woods and eating and drinking. I brought
her home on Florinef and dexamethosone and we weaned them both doe to being
off them 2 weeks ago and then 24 hours after the last Florinef dose, she
took a VERY drastic downhill slide at 11pm at night. I thought I was going
to loose her. She couldn't walk, she was very weak, lethargic, rapid
breathing, had a small seizure activity and I gave her karo syrup every hour
thru the night just to keep her sugar up, I slept on the couch with her on
my chest to ensure she was breathing. I called an emergency vet clinic
suspecting that she needed to be back on the florinef. I explained what was
going on and if it got worse during the night if they would give her
florinef (they were not ferret knowledgable vets), they said they would if I
got into that place. I sustained her during the night, got her to Dr. Gates
in the am and he said she was VERY sick and that her electrolytes were off
and that her BS was 120. He said I did good keeping her alive thru the
night. He gave her a loading dose for 3 days of the florinef and then
decreased after 3 weeks and then decrease again for 2 more weeks. He said
at that time, I can try to wean her off. My questions are::
1. If I wean her again is there a HIGH probability of this happening again ?
2. Are there any long term affects or problems or complications with her
being on this hormone for extended periods ?
3. How does this med affect the hair regrowth and vulvular shrinking ?
4. What kind of life expectancy can I have for her ?
She is approximately 4 years old and otherwise doing well. She also had a
gastromoty with wth adrenal surgery because they felt a mass of plastic ? in
her stomach and she stated that could have been there for "quite some time",
we had only had her a month before the surgery. With the rapid decline she
was grinding her teeth feverishly and Dr. Gates also gave her A/d for
several days and amoxicillian for her stomach. I have not seen her grinding
as much but she does shake/shiver ALL the time, and worse when being held,
is this possibly from the medication ? Thanks in advance for all your
replys.
Dianna & The Animal House