From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2001-12-08 12:04:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Answers on Melatonin usage
Hi Cynthia,
Sorry to hear you having problems with the right adrenal gland.
Yes you can give melatonin and Lupron at the same time.
At this years Exotic Pet Conference at Texas A&M, they
actually suggested using both at the same time.
I recommend 1mg/kg orally about 8-9 hours after sunrise.
This helps to stimulate "winter like" photoperiods
(ie 15-16 hours of darkness) which lowers GnRH, LH,
and FSH levels. Which in turn stops the stimulation to the
adrenal gland via the LH receptors. The folks at A&M are
using just 0.5mg/ferret once a day orally. Their dose is
based on the University of Wisconsin study (Paul-Murphy,J
and O'Brien R. Melatonin use in ferret adrenal gland disease.
Proceedings of North American Veterinary Conference, 2001,
Orlando, FL, page 897). Yes, you can use melatonin tablets
or capsules or have a pharmacy mix it with a flavored liquid
to make a suspension. The big side effect with melatonin is
lethargy for the first couple of days. The good news is it is
a low cost medication that does seem to help.
Yes there is also a mink melatonin injectable implant that
slowly releases it over a 4 month time period. Hopefully
they will an absorbable melatonin implant for ferrets soon.
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM
PS as for the itchy skin you can use Relief Shampoo with
Resisoothe or Resicort conditioner weekly. You can also
add Omega-3 fish oil (3V Skin Caps liquid) to the food.
The itchy skin should resolve once the adrenal gland disease
is under control.