From:
zus888
Date: 2002-05-11 01:58:00 UTC
Subject: PLEASE-Need enlightenment -- addison's disease
I'm hoping someone here can help me figure out what's going on with
my ferret. Here's the history:
Pixie's right adrenal was completely removed on April 5th, leaving
her without any adrenal glands. Among other stuff, my vet gave her
0.2 cc Percorten injection and prescribed 0.3cc pediapred once a day
orally for fourteen days, reducing it to 0.3cc every other day for
the following fourteen days. He informed me that she would need to
have another injection when her sodium potassium ratio reached 29 or
28.
I had her levels check at the two week mark (4/22/02) and they were:
Na-160, K-5.0, giving a ratio of 32. After 4 weeks (5/4/02) her
levels were checked again. They were: Na-141, K-5.0, giving a ratio
of 28. She received a 0.2cc Percorten injection that day, and we
were instructed to increase the pediapred to 0.3cc once a day. She
had begun showing symptoms of lethargy by this time.
I had read (I thought here) that the injection would increase the
ferret's activity level and that it would be noticeable. From what I
recollect, it should have taken several hours for this to occur.
Pixie did not improve. In fact, she got worse. She slept more,
became uninterested in play, and stopped eating and drinking.
I gave her another Percorten injection 3 days later (5/7/02) due to
my fear of a crisis. The following day (5/8/02)her levels were
checked again. They were: Na-139, K-5.9, giving a ratio of 23. She
was also given sub-q fluids and 0.3cc of injectible dex. We were
instructed to increase the pediapred to 0.3cc twice a day.
Her levels again were checked the day following. They were: Na-134,
K-6.1, giving a ratio of 22. On this day, she began showing signs of
improvement. She began eating and drinking on her own (at the vet's
of course). I left the vet without any further treatment and without
any explanation as to why she didn't respond. All the vet said was
that it looked like she was improving and she should be fine. The
vet believes that the second dose of percorten was finally working.
I have been left with so many questions and cannot seem to find the
answers. I am hoping someone here can help me.
First, why didn't the first shot of percorten work?
Why is there an assumption that the (second) percorten shot is
beginning to work? She was given dex the day prior, which would
increase appetite. Additionally, the levels (I'm a numbers person)
show that the ratio was low, which would lead me to believe that the
shot was NOT yet working.
One thing I have not mentioned is that one vet and one vet tech said
that we DON'T want a high ratio (in the 30's)-- we want a low ratio.
This contradicts what my primary vet has told me -- low ratios call
for treatment (i.e. 28 and below).
I am confused and frustrated. I fear that Pixie's recovery is only
due to the dex and is a false indication of an adequate ratio.
Additionally, this whole situation leaves me baffled as to what the
treament will be in 3 weeks. Will I need to include dex among the
pediapred and percorten? And how much percorten? And what is
considered a normal sodium potassium ratio?
Please, please I would appreciate any enlightenment that anyone can
provide. I insisted on taking home florinef in case she began going
downhill again. By the way, she continues to improve. Today she
played, and ate, and drank. The only bad sign is her sudden dislike
of pediapred, which she normally considers a treat.
With much appreciation,
Suzanna Donahue