From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2002-07-04 21:42:24 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] bilateral adrenal questions
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <20020704174224.7aced51e.whiteweasel@earthlink.net>
Hi,
>
> I have 2 ferrets who have had bilateral adrenal surgery. They have
> been on Florinef everyday since the surgery.
If they had the gland fully removed they will be for the rest of their
life.
>
> My questions are:
>
> 1. Does the Florinef give false electrolyte readings? In other
> words.... 2. If some adrenal tissue remains, how will I know,
> considering the Florinef keeps them healthy?
Your vet should know based on the procedure he or she did if there is
likely to be any remaining adrenal tissue that can produce sufficient
adrenal products to maintain a normal balance of electrolytes. It's not
that florinef and whatever else your ferret is getting (i.e.:
prednisone) are producing false readings. What they are doing is
replacing the missing adrenal products. If the electrolyte readings are
in the normal range now I would leave things precisely as they are.
> 3. I'd like to wean them from the Florinef, if enough adrenal
> tissue remains, but obviously don't want them to crash... is there a
> way to do this w/out endangering their health?
I am not a vet, but I've seen an Addisonian Crisis. It is terribly
scary, and potentially fatal *very* quickly. Why do you want to take
away the florinef? For bilateral adrenal ferrets lifelong treatment
with florinef and prednisone is the norm. Don't tinker with your
ferrets electrolytes, and certainly not without your vet there every
step of the way. IMHO, you would be endangering their lives,
All the best,
Caity