From:
Mimsy_01
Date: 2002-05-03 02:04:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Insulinoma
Well if she ate anything it would raise the glucose. 70 is usually
a bad sign...at least from the kids I've seen. Though it seems
different ferret can tolerate different levels of low differently. My
shayla is in siezures in the 60's, yet Toez could actually walk
around fairly normal even when in the late 20's and 30's.
I think that trying, especially with her being not THAT low, to
encourage some high protien foods often would do her
wonders. Does she like chicken baby food or chicken gravy?
Maybe a little bonding time with a bowl before play times would
really help. The ferrets here have responded very well to diet
changes (lots of high protien soups, with no sugars or carbs)
when having low..but not too low glucose's.
On pred-It *should* work well for a good bit longer than weeks.
but, at least with the kids I've had here, it seems to differ..some
can go months and others many years. I think the quicker it's
caught though, the longer it works. The one's that seem to work
the least for is the one's who have came to me in very sorry
shape and very likely had insulinoma for a very long time
undiagnosed. You may have to higher the doses from time to
time. (just watch for signs of low glucose, and have regular
glucose checks done with your vet) And then there is proglycem.
Once you start reaching maximum doses of pred, you can add
proglycem. Tempest I think can thank her last year because of
the proglycem. ;)
With an older ferret, I always think it's entirely the owners, who
know their fur kid best, decission to do or not do surgery.
Good luck,
Kristine