From:
farrell_cynthia@hotmail.com
Date: 2001-10-16 05:58:00 UTC
Subject: 1) Insulinoma possibility? and 2) adrenalish question(s)
Hello all -
1) About a month ago, I came home from a 2-week trip to find one of
our ferrets, Sasha, seemingly ill. She had gained a ton of weight in
the abdomen - looked very pear shaped. My husband had been home, and
noticed the weight gain, but thought it was just winter weight like
our other ferret gains every fall. He also noticed she was very
lethargic, and her eyes were glassy. When I saw her, she could
barely stand up, and her back legs were completely useless.
Insulinoma bells went off in my head, although she'd never acted
similarly. Within 20 min. we were at the vet. Weight gain was 10
oz. Did a complete blood count and also took x-rays. The x-rays
looked fine, although did show lots of gas.
We took her home, and for lack of anything else to do, gave her a bit
of Karo syrup and some duck soup, and she slept all night. Sat. a.m.
she was looking much better. The vet called with the count results,
and everything was fine, including the BG. It could be she had eaten
recently, but she had been so immobile, I doubt it. She continued to
get better over the next few days AND lost the weight.
Since then I've been watching her carefully. We had one episode a
few nights back. She and the others were playing, when she just
slumped over and got glassy-eyed. When I tried to get her to move,
the back legs were out again. I rubbed some Karo on her gums, and
then she started to squeak and foam at the mouth. Wasn't sure if she
was seizing or just having problems with me forcing the Karo on her
gums. Some possible urine leakage too, but it happened when I put
her on the bed and she was moving around, so I couldn't tell if it
was urine or saliva. I put her in her cage, and then she started to
act wierd - almost hyper, pushing things around, then laying there,
then pushing again. Finally she went to sleep. She DID eat a good
meal later that night and in the morning. Otherwise she's been fine
and active
Insulinoma? Should I have another BG done, making sure she fasts?
What would be the cause of the weight gain? We have no experience
with insulinoma - ours is all adrenal - so any advice/suggestions
would be appreciated.
2) A week or so back I asked a question about Arimidex vs. Lupron.
Chumley's hair loss is continuing, so I think we're going to try
Lupron. What is Melatonin? I see that a lot here but am unfamiliar
with it.
And finally, along the hair loss lines, I have been doing volunteer
work at a wildlife center, feeding baby mammals, including
squirrels. Mange was going through the squirrels... is it possible I
could have passed it to Chumley? (His hair loss is the front, rather
than rear, of his body.) Could he get it but not the others? Is
there anything else I might be able to pass, from squirrels or
rabbits? (I always change clothes and disinfect my arms before
touching the ferrets.)
Sorry this is so long... lots of illness in our house.
Thanks!
Cynthia