From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2002-11-06 21:34:13 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Adrenal Surgery Cost/Vet Recommendation
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Cc: TR1212@aol.com
Message-Id: <20021106163413.01ee5eca.whiteweasel@earthlink.net>
Hi, Tiffany,
> Why doesn't your vet believe in cryo?
In the case of a right adrenal gland he's seen two problems. The first
is usually a tiny piece of the affected gland attached to the vena cava
is left in. He is adamant that if you leave any of the gland in you
pretty much always leave part of the tumor and the disease in. No cure
that way. Worse is the case where a tiny bit of the vena cava is
accidentally frozen and dies. If the ferret is closed up when this was
done he/she eventually bleeds out and dies.
In the case of left adrenal surgeries he says he's simply not convinced
it's a better procedure. He's done cryo and feels more comfortable
doing it the conventional way. I must say my ferts who've had a left
done by him come home wanting to play and not realizing that something
major has been done to them, so I don't see how they'd recover faster or
better with cryo.
I am not saying cryo can't be done right and can't have good results.
I'm no vet. It's just that I respect the opinion of our vet a lot.
He does think laser surgery holds promise, BTW. Our vet is in no way
adverse to new techniques.
> And, if it's a right gland and none of
> the vets in the area do the vena cava ligation, what route would you
> go?
I can't honestly answer that one. I think I'd have to move overseas
before my ferrets would change vets. Podo had both a right adrenal
surgery with vena cava ligation at age seven and a half and insulinoma
surgery at age eight. With the diseases gone it's like he's been
rejuvenated. He's bouncing around like a kit and chasing down other
ferrets half his age and pouncing them to start wrestling matches. (No,
he's not being aggressive, just very playful.) I had two other very
good ferret vets tell me to put Pertwee down. That was over three years
ago. Our vet saved his life and he's happy and healthy today. If I
move my ferrets will *travel* for anything resembling major vet care.
All the best,
Caity and the non-stop nine