From:
toucanvet@aol.com
Date: 2002-03-01 18:14:00 UTC
Subject: adrenal diagnosis
I do not advocate the use of Lupron as a "diagnostic" test for adrenal disease.
It has not been demonstrated to be harmful - but they said that about Thalidamide too didn't they - and it was FDA approved.
Moreover, if the ferret is non-surgeical then medical treatments have to be tried. There are other drug options available besides Lupron. Usually these drugs are hormone related SO you have to know specifically which hormone levels are elevated so that you can use the right drug. IE you cannot block testoreone's effect if you use a estrogen blocking drug.
SO IMHO I reccomend blood testing of hormone levels for adrenal disease. Even with the use of ultrasound or surgical exploration. Because IME I have seen:
1. equivical ultrasound results
2. adrenal glands that were grossly normal at exploration.
3. ectopic adrenal tissue so that both glands are removed and yet clinical signs don't resolve.
Benjamin A. Otten, DVM
Avian and Exotic Pet Medicine and Surgery
Montclair Veterinary Clinic
1961 Mountian BLVD.
Oakland, CA 94611
(510) 339-8600