From:
Caitlyn M. Martin
Date: 2001-11-18 17:34:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] options for adrenal problem.
On Sun, 18 Nov 2001 08:48:12 EST
GRNTEE@a... wrote:
> I have a seven year old ferret, that is showing great signs again of adrenal
> problems. The first surgery took care of the left side, so naturally it is
> right sided. I am very leary about doing this surgery as she is on the
> elderly side.
A lot depends on how healthy your girl is. My vet calls Podo and Kodo (my two
seven year olds) "young" for their age. That doesn't mean they don't act old
or that you can't make an accurate guess at their age if you examine them.
What it does mean is that they are very strong and healthy. Seven is
definitely not too old for adrenal surgery if your girl is very strong and
likely to live for a while yet. OTOH, if she has other health issues or is
really showing her age, surgery may not be a good idea at all. You really do
need to take that two hour drive and decide together with your vet what is best
for her.
> I would do anything to save my baby and am heartbroken and
> terrified for her. She has to have surgery on her ear as she has a growth on
> it and the vet is removing the growth on the 26th of this month. I obviously
> have to take care of that but am wondering how long I should wait for her to
> recover from that surgery before I even think of the surgery for the adrenal
> problem.
I am not a vet, but I think my vet might opt to do both at once. If she only
has to be put under anaesthesia one time you are definitely reducing the risks
to her.
> So, my question is, are there any medicines on the market that I
> would be able to give Bria in the meantime to help with the adrenal problem?
> I have heard of lupron injections and someone mentioned Essiac in a post
> somewhere but I don't know what these are either.
Lupron relieves the symptoms of adrenal disease, but does not cure it. It is
expensive, but is usually quite effective. The big question, it seems to me,
is to try and judge your girl's health and decide if you think she has a few
years to live yet or if she is really getting on. If you think she's one of
those ferrets who could live to be 10 if she stays healthy, then surgery might
make sense. If not, I'd certainly opt for the medical route to keep her
quality of life good. This is a decision that I think you and your vet have to
make together.
> Any information or advice on this problem is welcome. I am just so worried
> for my baby. She is the sweetest ferret you would ever want to meet.
My Romana is like that, and her adrenal symptoms have come back just weeks
after her left was removed. She's a lot younger than your girl, but what I'm
going to do is the same thing I'd do for my seven year olds: take her to the
vet and let him tell me what is best for her. Yes, I trust my vet that much.
To me, with older ones, the question is: do you have a good chance to
significantly extend their life without reducing the quality of life? If the
answer is yes, then surgery still makes sense. If the answer is no, then
making your girl happy for as long as she has left (and that can be quite a
while with adrenal disease) is the better route to go.
I'm sorry if I raised more questions instead of giving answers. I'm just not
qualified to give answers. Hopefully I did give you some food for thought.
Good luck!
All the best,
Caity and the terrific 10