From:
ferrets_985@yahoo.com
Date: 2002-08-31 00:37:15 UTC
Subject: RE: Addensonian Crises - Rx?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <17122706.1030754235643.JavaMail.root@scandium>
You know I wish I had an answer for you and for myself right now. Bear had=
bi lateral adrenal surgery in November and he was on only Florinef and Pre=
dnisone. He was fine on Friday night, he ate some chicken baby food and we=
nt to bed in the cage with all his companions. Saturday morning like every =
other morning he was gotten out first for some duck soup. He was limp and h=
is eyes were barely open and squinting. I did get his meds into him and a =
little food and rushed him to the vet. Some of his tests indicated an Addi=
sonian crisis others didn't but he was treated as if that was the problem. =
His Florinef was changed to Percorten and his pred to injectable dex. He'=
s still isn't getting much better. He's grinding his teeth at every feedin=
g and being re hydrated twice a day. He's on meds for ulcers and diahrrea =
but I'm really discouraged. He seems a bit better one day and not as good =
the next. He only eats what is hand fed and we're doing this every 4 hours =
around the clock. This has been going on for a week now. I for one would n=
ever have a bi lateral done again if it was going to require hormone replac=
ement. I'd rather have part of one left and go to Lupron if necessary. =
Author wrote:
> Sugar, one of my bilateral adrenalectomy fuzzies passed away Sunday, as
> a result of an Addensonian crisis which started on Friday. She was 6
> years old, on pred + florinef, lupron (due to possible ectopic tissue or
> metasteses), and Enacard for cardiomyopathy. She rallyed several times,
> appeared stabilized, then crashed again, until her heart and kidneys
> couldn't take it any longer, and I had to let her go ...
> I previously asked if it might not be easier on a ferret to take both
> adrenals at the same time, even if only one was affected, and all
> responses were a definite NO - due to the risk of a crash. Having gone
> thru it, I can now definitely vote with the "NO"s. Both of her adrenals
> had to be removed August of 2001, but she seemed to do well - good post
> op checks, a tooth out in June with no problems. Took her and Precious
> in Wednesday for their check-ups and monthly Lupron, noticed a bit of
> loose stools that PM, not unusual for her after the stress of a trip to
> the vet, made a note to call in the AM if it wasn't better ... next AM
> I found her limp and cold.
> We pretty much know what to do for a low blood sugar, but I would
> welcome a quick course on immediate first aid for a crash due to
> Addison's - it takes 30 minutes to get to the vet. My vet said the
> sugar, sodium and body temp plummets (her temp was 92 when we arrived at
> the vet's). She recommended a hair dryer set on low, blown indirectly
> into towels wrapped around the ferret can help in a pinch, taking
> special care not to overheat or burn the ferret - some blowers can get
> really hot quick. But what about the sugar and sodium ? Pedialyte ? She
> wasn't awake, able to swallow, so I would be afraid of choking,
> aspiration. Anything injectable, for those of us who are able? I doubt I
> could hit a vein (they had to insert an intraosseous cath), but sub Q? I
> am keeping a hot water bottle in the emergency kit, for the drive,
> anything else quick and beneficial that can be done? Thanks
=