From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-09-30 13:16:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Adrenal & skin cancer??
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., keclark49@e... wrote:
> Zackari is almost 8 years old. Has been through the mill with two
> adrenal surgeries four years apart and one round of Lupron.
> He has been diagnosed with Insulomia and on a low dose of
Prednisone
> & Diazoxide. He's still having weakness in his back legs. He
> doesn't seem to be in any pain but just waits for me to help him
> walk, bless his heart.
> His medication is very expensive. He is showing signs of more
> adrenal problems with the hair lose on his tale and feet. All that
> said I don't know what I can afford to do for him at this point.
He
> needs another round of Lupron. This vet only does the 6-month
shot,
> which is $200 a pop. Do you have any suggestions?
> Also he has this growth on his muzzle that has continued to grow
like
> a cauliflower. It doesn't appear to have grown through the wall of
> his mouth. He at times rubs it and it bleeds. I put antibiotic
save
> on it every day. He also has spots that come up like blood
blisters
> on his side and neck. The vet said he would take the growth off
but
> he doesn't think Zack can survive the surgery.
>
> Any suggestions from the group, besides give him lots of love and
> attention, which I do. He's my fuzzy son.
Dear Kathy:
You may want to check the archives of the FHL for a cheaper source of
Lupron - although you may not actually do better than $200 every 6
months. Lupron is not an inexpensive drug. You might want to
consider a short bout of melatonin, which is not quite as effective,
and generally only works for a period of several months, and works
best in the spring-summer period, but at least it's an option.
Your description of the mass on the muzzle sounds very much like a
sebaceous epithelioma - the most common skin tumor. These tumors are
invariably benign, but if they are ulcerated, may serve as a source
of infection. surgical excision is recommended, but not absolutely
necessary if it poses a risk.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams ,DVM