From:
"Ferretlove"
Date: 2002-09-28 11:38:18 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: Mason's insulinoma surgery and autopsy :-( Questions...
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <24332845.1033227059127.JavaMail.nobody@magnesium>
Dear Dr Williams
<<Regarding the odd glucose readings, here is a possible scenario. In
long-standing insulinoma, normal insulin-secreting tumors wither away, as
there is no longer any call for insulin. The insulin secreted sporadically
by the tumor results in the hypoglycema (BG from 45-55 in this case, and one
time 25). No, you went and gave exogenous glucose by IV and used pred to
bump it up even higher. If during that time the tumor secreted no insulin,
by chance, there were also no normal islets to secrete it, and the glucose
just went sky high. Eventually if you waited long enough, the tumor may
have secreted insulin and everything would plunge again, but in this case it
didn't.>>
Sorry, I guess I didn't express myself right. I took Mason in for
insulinoma surgery and because he was so weak, the vet thought he had a
really low sugar and said she would get IV glucose into him. But before
doing this, she tested his blood glucose and then found out that it was so
very high so she didn't actually give him glucose. He had been on pred and
did really well for 4 days and then deteriorated on the 5th day and didn't
want to eat. He'd always been a *very good* eater and suddenly didn't want
to eat and I had to pry his mouth open and put some food in to get him to
eat. On day 6 and 7 he was very depressed, weak and lethargic and on day 7
he went in for surgery and was put to sleep. But I will clear this up with
my vet in case I misunderstood her and she gave Mason glucose before testing
his blood but I'm sure she tested him and did not give him any glucose...
Best wishes
Ulrike
Thank you for your reply.
West Wales Ferret Welfare
E-mail: ferretlove@ntlworld.com
http://www.ferretlove.co.uk
Last update 26/09/02