From:
reeddion
Date: 2002-03-11 23:45:00 UTC
Subject: Update, Warning, And Insulinoma Guide
I'm mostly a lurker here, but I posted a while ago when my little
boy was diagnosed with insulinoma, and I wanted to thank
everyone for all their help, and to give an update: He's doing well
on .75 ml of pred twice a day, and goes in for surgery at the end
of the month. I had a fund raiser at my school to be able to afford
it, and raised quite a bit of money towards the surgery (though
not all).
However, due to a post on here a while back, i called my
pharmacist and inquired as to what the pred I am giving him is
mixed in. It turns out it is mixed with alcohol and sugar, both of
which are really bad for insulinomic ferrets. Imagine my
surprise, especially when I was told that I couldn't get it mixed
any other way from them. I'm not sure if my vet didn't know, so I
wrote her an email about it, but I wanted to give you all the heads
up. there is a bit of good news though, and that is that an
equivalent (to my knowledge) is available in pill form, and though
it means you can't mix it with chicken baby food to get the fuzzies
to eat it, at least it doesn't have sugar or alcohol. I can only
imagine how thrilled my boy will be when he discovers that I'm
going to have to force feed him a pill twice a day (wry grin).If
nobody minds, I'd like to post a quick guide to dealing with
insulinomic ferrets below, and please email me with corrections
if i've gotten anything wrong. I know that having something like
this in a post all in one spot would have made my life easier
when my boy was first diagnosed.
Insulinoma for the Owner: (My humble opinions)
Some signs of insulinoma are wobbly or disfunctional hind
legs/hind end, spaciness, drooling, foaming and clawing at the
mouth, and listlessness. If you suspect any of these, take your
ferret to the vet or check the blood glucose IMMEDIATELY (the
test isn't usually expensive, and it's definitely worth you little
one's life). Ferrets can have fatal seizures and brain damage
from blood sugar being too low, and the longer the disease
goes unoperated, theo more the cancer spreads (YES, it is a
cancer) and the less the pancrease works, increasing chances
of your ferret being diabetic after surgery. Surgery is the best
option, and the sooner the better. However, if your little one isn't
s good surgical candidate, a controlled diet and medecine has
been known to keep ferrets healthy for nearly their full lifespan.
So don't give up. These guys are tough.
Normal blood glucose after a four hour fast (bloodwork) is above
80. Lower may indicate insulinoma.
You can check blood glucose at home with a glucometer,
Freestyle being the meter that needs the smallest amount of
blood (it's a bit tricky to get blood in sufficient quantities from
the
little guys)
If they have a seizure, rub alittle honey or karo syrup or a solution
of sugar water on their gums (do not force feed anything, they
may get it in their lung if their unconscious) and bring them to the
vet immediately when they can travel.
Switch to a high protein, high fat, low carbohydrate and sugar
diet. This means kitten foods, and especially cat foods, may not
be sufficient. You can supplement with ferretone or linatone, but
not ferret vite, or nutrical, because of the carbos and sugars.
Also stay away from laxatives for the same reason. I think you
can give cod liver oil instead (it's an ingredient in ferretone). So
far, I've found Zupreems to be the highest protein ferret food, but
double check to make sure the first ingredients are chicken or
chicken by products. Ferrets don't digest corn or even fish very
well, and fish makes things stinky. Protein should be about
35%+, and far 15%+. Cat food is a definite no, kitten food is ok if
they absolutely won't eat anything else, but ferret food is best.
You can also supplement with duck soup occasionally, but if you
put cream in it, also put in some lactose pills. Ferrets are lactose
intolerant. And absolutely do not ever put chromium (brewers
yeast)! It is for diabetics, which is the opposite of hypoglycemics
(insulinomas) and will make your ferret even more sick if it
works. (I'm truly baffled as to how many times this is
recommended for insulinomas!)
Nothings keeps up spirits and health like a little extra lovin...give
plenty of attention.
Keep them well hydrated...either put ferretone in some water to
get them to drink, or give pedialyte. Buy the freezer pops or
individual serving sizes, as it goes bad quickly (i think it has a
1-2 day lifespan).
Usual medecine is prednisolone, or prednisone, and dosage
will vary depending on the ferret. it seems normal to start out
with .50 ml (1ml=1cc) and see if the blood glucose is normal
after 10 days, and if not, up it by .25 ml every 10 days until it is.
I'm not sure what it is, but there is a maximum dosage, and after
that, proglycem, a more expensive medication, can be added.
Insulinoma is not at all contagious, so don't worry if you have
other furries. However, it may be brought on by feeding too much
sugar on a regular basis (big maybe), so watch how much
carbos you give them, and absolutely no candy! Sugar is not
good for ferrets, even if they are healthy.
There are many options for ferret treats and snacks. However,
remember that ferrets are carnivores (eat only meat), and that
snacks should never be given so often that the ferret stops
eating it's regular food. They are like junk food for us. Thus, it
is
usually ok to give cat treats, but not dog treats, and raisins,
smooth peanut butter, small bits of banana, small bits of cooked
poultry or meat or even fish, small bits of cooked egg, and plain
lunchmeat in pieces (I also hear plain cheerios are ok). The key
is to only give a little, to mostly give meat or eggs, and to give it
in
tiny pieces, preferrably soft ones too. Ferrets are extremely
susceptible to blockages, and they have very quick and picky
digestive systems. Blockages are fatal very quickly, so be extra
careful what they eat, and what they chew on. Some things that
ferrets should never have are: Most veggies, especially carrots (I
almost lost a ferret when he was given a carrot by someone who
didn't know better), candy or sugar products, uncooked grains,
spicy and heavily spiced foods, chocolate or coffee or alcohol
(VERY BAD) and in general, most people food. This does not
mean that your ferret won't love things he's not supposed to
have. Mine seems to love black licorice, cucumbers, pickles,
and quite a few other things that aren't good for him, but in
general, he "would like a bit if whatever you're eating while he's
around, please." Be firm, or at least as stubborn as they are.
If I've left anything out, or anythign is wrong, please correct me.
Sorry for the long post.
Amber
P.S. I am having trouble with my mail system, so sorry if this
shows up twice.