From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2002-08-09 20:24:43 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] bilateral adrenal
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Cc: jeggink98@yahoo.com
Message-Id: <20020809162443.177ef59e.whiteweasel@earthlink.net>
Hi, Judi,
> My ferret had adrenal surgery on Monday. We just got
> the pathology back and both of them were cancerous,
Pertwee had two adrenal carcinomas removed in two surgeries in April and
June of 2000. He's still here :) Adrenal carcinomas rarely
metastasize. We had one ferret where that did happen, and we did lose
her, but the odds are very much in your ferret's favor.
> Anyway, they
> left a litle bit of the right adrenal gland, but not
> much.
I'm sorry to hear that. Our vet is of the opinion that if you leave any
of the gland in you probably leave the disease in as well.
>
> He has not really gained his appetite back yet. We will be doing
> another blood test next week to check his electrolyte balance.
Don't wait any longer than you have to. We've been through eight adrenal
surgeries here, and the only time they didn't want to eat was when
electrolytes were out of balance. I agree with Sukie: florinef may be
in order. Get your vet to check his electrolytes at the earliest
possible time.
>
> Another question, how long does it take for the left
> over piece of adrenal gland to kick in?
This one I can't answer. In all three cases where the right gland was
removed our vet ligated the vena cava and got all of it.
> Does it ever
> happen that it does not kick in?
I can't answer that either, and I'm not a vet. I think your vet has to
look at that possibility, though.
All the best,
Caity