From:
lobodelrio2000@yahoo.com
Date: 2001-03-06 18:26:29 UTC
Subject: ferret adrenal disease and insulinoma
From: "Sheila Sykes-Gatz"
To: Ferret-health-list@yahoogroups.com
Hello everyone,
Our (nearly 7 year old) male ferret was diagnosed with insulinoma in
April
2000. We feel that our ferret now may have adrenal disease in
addition.
Our vet is not very experienced with ferrets, their diseases, or how
medications may affect ferrets (ferrets are uncommon here in Germany)
and is
relying on our internet sources (vet. info) for information. We are
unable
to find vets in our region who have experience with ferrets. We have
been
treating him with Prednisone (surgery to remove insulinoma tumors
was not
performed). We currently offer Prednisone at 3.12mg/day (he weighs
approx.
1 1/2kg). We need information from our internet sources (vets) to
guide our
vet towards the correct diagnosis and drug therapy for adrenal
disease.
Our ferret urinates more frequently, in larger (dilute) amounts,
drinks more
water than usual, and defecates more frequently. His lymph glands
also
increase significantly in size and then decrease over the weeks only
to have
the pattern repeated later. He shivers easily and fairly
frequently. He
lost very significant weight and muscle mass (never regaining either)
and
his ribs/vertebrate etc. show prominently although he eats well. We
all,
including our vet, thought these symptoms (in addition to his other
insulinoma symptoms) were caused by insulinoma, as they were present
before
April 2000. Six months ago, he developed a large tumor/mass of
unknown
origin in his abdomen, which our vet. felt could not be removed.
It's
growing progressively larger. Over the last couple months he's lost
a great
deal of hair on his trunk (on his back and sides mostly), he has many
bald
areas, his skin is very dry and wrinkly, his hair comes out easily in
little
clumps with a build up of a yellowish looking wax on the hair ends,
and this
waxy build up is evident on his skin throughout his trunk (bathing
doesn't
help). Do these symptoms sound like adrenal disease? If so, what
type and
how is it tested for? We are confused from the information
available. We
have read that the overproduction of different hormones, specifically
sex
hormones and androgens, cause specific symptoms. Can the
overproduction of
cortisol also cause problems in ferrets as well as in dogs? The
symptoms of
our ferret nearly exactly match those of cortisol overproduction,
except for
the higher glucose levels (which are most likely lower in our ferret
because
of insulinoma). We would like to know what drug is most appropriate
to
treat our ferret's adrenal disease (in coordination with his
Prednisone for
insulinoma), would it be Lupron? If so, can you give us the
specifics
needed for administration of this medication and side effects, how it
would
effect Prednisone/insulinoma, etc..
We thank you again, in advance, for any advice you may have.
Sincerely,
Sheila
Sheila Sykes-Gatz
Cimbernstr. 1, 44263 Dortmund, Germany.
E-mail: sheilasykes@h...