Message Number: YG12634 | New FHL Archives Search
From: pjdutche
Date: 2002-04-20 12:52:00 UTC
Subject: Re: symptoms for diabetes

--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "myferps" <ltoole@t...> wrote:
> Could anyone please give me the symptoms for diabetes in ferrets?

Keeping in mind that I've had exactly one diabetic ferret and so have
limited experience, here is what we saw with Sonic when she was
diabetic:

- Lots of peeing; lots of drinking. Sonic used to produce really,
really huge puddles of urine - easily detected on the newspapers I
use for my older crew.

- Weakness, lethargy. A lot like you see with insulinoma.

- A peculiar odor about her, especially her breath. Many people
describe a diabetic pet's breath as "fruity," but to me it smelled
like fingernail polish remover. I've also heard it described
as "chemical breath."

If you have urine test strips made for human diabetics, you can
quickly figure out if they have sugar or ketones in their urine.
Spilling sugar into the urine is a definite sign of diabetes. They
can be purchased over the counter at drug stores and are usually kept
with the diabetic testing supplies.

Good luck!
-Pam S.