From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2002-09-03 03:37:20 UTC
Subject: Insulinoma surgery results
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <20020902233720.0522dcda.whiteweasel@earthlink.net>
Hi, everyone,
Now, as is often the case, there is a discussion of insulinoma symptoms
ad what do to about them. Insulinoma, sadly, seems to be the second
most common major illness after adrenal disease.
I wanted to report on Kodo, my eight year old. He had no prior history
of medical problems at all and had always been strong. When the first
insulinoma symptoms started showing up his blood glucose was tested and
was 45. After starting prednisone we tested him again and his glucose
was 23. We kept increasing the dosage and his blood glucose remained at
52 or less and his symptoms got progressively worse. We opted for
surgery despite his age.
Today was the fourth day after surgery and Kodo is recoering well.
Tonight was the first night where he felt well enough to do some serious
exploring. Before the surgery his hind legs would go out from under him
all the time. Now he's steady on his feet and even ran a little.
We don't have the pathology results back yet, but there was one large
mass just outside the pancreas as well as some smaller nodules visible
in one limb of the pancreas. Most of that limb was removed. Until our
vet sees the pathology he's not going to give a prognosis, but the
surgery itself went very well and Kodo is obviously recovering very
nicely.
Kodo has a brother (Podo) who had the same surgery a couple of months
ago and a right adrenal surgery three months before that. In his case
there were two large nodules visible. Podo has a new lease on life.
He's suddenly acting like a much younger ferret: very energetic and
playful. The improvement in his quality of life has been just amazing.
I hope we've bought him a couple of good years.
People decide ferrets shouldn't have surgery solely based on age. I've
read it here. Dr. Williams and others have pointed out that shouldn't
be the only factor in deciding. I have two eight year olds who are
poster children for insulinoma surgery when done by a good and
experienced ferret vet.
I've also read at least a couple of "I can't afford surgery" or "I don't
have the money for a vet visit" posts in other threads. These annoy me
no end. I was unemployed for nine months and I am now repaying our vet.
The choice was letting my ferrets suffer and possibly die from
treatable diseases or doing vet care on credit. Not much of a choice,
is it? These ferrets depend on me and I am going to always fo the best
for them.
Anyway, I just wanted to post our experiences with The Do(ugh) Boys with
the thought that it might give some other ferret owners hope.
All the best,
Caity and the notorious nine:
-The Dough Boys (Podo and Kodo)
-The White Boys (Adric, Ker Avon, and Pertwee)
-The Grrls (Nyssa, Lady Ayeka, and Romana)
-and Tenchi, as always, in charge of them all