Message Number: YG926 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Sheila Sykes
Date: 2001-03-08 17:10:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] RE: adrenal disease/insulinoma

Hello all,

Follwoing are some very specific questions about
Lupron and their dosages. I am hoping some vets on
this listserve will be able to help. It is fairly
urgent in nature.

We just returned from our vet and talked to
Professional Arts Pharmacy in the U.S. about getting
Lupron. We would like to order Lupron within the next
days or so for our 7 year old male ferret who has
adrenal disease and insulinoma (being treated with
Prednisone since April 2000) and a large abdominal
tumor of unknown source (for the last 6 months). Our
ferret can not be operated on at this time because of
his poor condition. We live in Germany where adrenal
disease in ferrets is virtually not known about. Our
vet knows nothing of Lupron, but will administer it in
the way that is suggested by our internet sources
(which are primarily postings from Dr. Weiss). We
will choose a one-month depot to start with. Dr.
Weiss is suggesting that 500/mcg for the one-month
depot is the most effective dose he has found so far.
He states in a posting under Ferret health care titled
“Lupron Demystified”: “There are lower dosages
recommended by some. Although I have not used lower
dosages, I have heard of approximately 20 cases and
seen several for a second opinion, where lower dosages
did not reverse the symptoms”. Besides for of Dr.
Weiss’s info and 2 other examples (one of which was
yours Mike), recently received by the net, we have no
other information on the effectiveness or use of lower
dosages. Can any one else (esp. vets) supply us with
more information on this? We feel much safer with
lower dosages, but it seems they might not always be
effective.

It seems, from internet posting alone, that there are
no significant side effects of Lupron when used for
ferrets (although many-a frightening amount-are listed
when it is used for humans-which make us worry). Does
any one know more about Lupron side-effects? Can a
ferret have major abdominal surgery (in our case to
remove his large tumor-that is if he improves
significantly on Lupron) while being on Lupron? Would
surgery be more dangerous while a ferret is on Lupron
(combined with prednisone-he now gets 3.12mg/day and
weighs 1.5kg)?

Any help with these questions, esp. from vets, would
be most appreciated and greatly needed.

Thank you in advance,
Sheila Sykes-Gatz
sheilasykes@h...




__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail.
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/