From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2002-03-13 15:11:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] adrenal disease
Hi,
I have had two ferrets where the left adrenal gland was removed and the
disease recurred at a later point in the right adrenal glabd. Your vet
may not want to do a second adrenal surgery on Jacob. The surgery is
done one of three ways: 1) the surgery is either done by ligating the
vena cava, the main vein to the heart, 2) cryosurgery, or 3) laser
surgery, which is quite new.
Vena cava ligation is a difficult procedure and if not done correctly
the ferret will die. If your vet does not have experience with this
procedure I understand his reluctance to do it. A vet with a lot of
experience in right adrenals can do it with a very high rate of success,
though.
I've talked to my vet about cryosurgery and he has given up on it. His
claim is that it is not a better procedure. He also has reports from
colleagues who say that when it isn't properly done either 1) the vena
cava will rupture at some point after surgery, causing death, or 2) part
of the adrenal gland, and therefore the tumor, will remain, along with
all the symptoms. Obviously cyro needs to be done just right. If it
is, it can work very well indeed. Again, you need a really experienced
vet. My vet is sticking with vena cava ligation.
My vet has never done the laser surgery, but he has been getting reports
of as high as 40% recurrence of symptoms, implying that the entire right
gland was not removed. If the tumor invades the vena cava laser is
apparantly not the way to go. He is waiting to see how some other vets
do with laser before deciding whether or not to consider it.
Bottom line: the only way Jacob can be cured is with another surgery,
and you need a vet who is very experienced with not only removing the
right adrenal gland safely and successfully, but also proper aftercare.
Jacob will need to be on medication to keep his electrolytes in balance
with no adrenal glands. Again, if this isn't done properly the
situation can become life threatening.
Please don't let my post scare you. Just make sure your vet is up to
it, and if not, find one who is. My Pertwee had his second adrenal
surgery in the spring of 2000. He's still as crazy as ever, and is my
most playful ferret by far. He always has been.
Good luck!
Caity and the notorious nine