From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2001-12-31 10:23:00 UTC
Subject: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: melatonin implants
Hi Katherine,
The problem with the mink melatonin implant is it
nonabsorbable. Thus when you inject it, it stays there
forever. The implant last for about 4 months so you would
have to give it 2-3 times a year. After a while you would have
a lot of these "rice sized" implants under the skin. That MAY
cause a problem (inflammation that develops into a granuloma
or into a tumor). That is why the company in Wisconsin (Consulting
Services) is working on an absorbable melatonin implant for ferrets.
In the mean time, the male mink melatonin implant can be used.
Also Wildlife Pharmaceuticals in Colorado is working on a GnRH
analog (similar to Lupron) to would be a long lasting implant or
injection for ferrets. Hopefully we will have these available
sometime
in 2002! Hope that clears up the confusion.
Happy New Year,
Jerry Murray, DVM