From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2001-12-14 05:40:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Adrenal surgery
Hi, Linda,
The usual "I am not a vet" disclaimer applies, but I've been through
more adrenal surgeries with my ferts than I care to think about.
> Hi. Is it still the conventional wisdom of the more
> experienced ferret vets that, if a ferret is losing fur
> bilaterally toward the back of his spine (plus mounting
> and attacking his brother) and the vet goes in to do
> surgery but can't tell which adrenal gland is affected,
> when in doubt, take the left one out?
AFAIK, no, it is not.
> Or am I better off
> waiting several months because by then, it will be
> obvious which adrenal is affected?
In this situation my vet waits until the symptoms become more pronounced
and goes back in. It hasn't happened with one of mine, but he has
explained that he does not want to subject a ferret to two surgeries and
therefore waits until he is sure the affected gland will be obviously
enlarged.
Also, my vet is very concerned about creating Addisonian ferrets
unnecessarily. What if you take the left and it turns out to be the
right? In 20% of cases it's the right, and that's too high a number in
his opinion. Having been through the process of getting electrolytes
balanced in two bilateral adrenal ferrets and having one nearly die due
to an Addisonian Crisis, I must say I agree with him 100%.
>
> I have trouble finding vets out here in New Mexico who
> are willing to remove an adrenal gland that looks normal
> and I will have to give very specific instructions ahead
> of time. The last time this happened, the vet sewed my
> ferret back up, and a few months later, I drove to
> Maryland and Dr. Weiss pulled out a left adrenal that
> was 3-4 times normal size.
I know that was a pain, but IMHO, and in my vet's opinion, your vet did
the right thing.
All the best,
Caity