From:
sukieferret
Date: 2002-05-16 20:36:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Gidget
I did a quick search on "pituitary" using the search engine at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-Health-list
. There are a number of non-vet posts -- some of which should
also interest you -- and apparently there is at least one more vet
post I didn't find that relates since it is quoted in one of these. I
think that it would make sense for you to search under
"Lysodren". It appears from the second one that Lupron may
have just the action you mention.
Years ago we used to use Lysodren. It can cause the adrenals
to atrophy so you have to be prepared for possible Addisons.
Post 9307
Have never seen a case of pituitary-related
hyperadrenocorticism in a
ferret - although this is fairly common in dogs. Have only seen
one
pituitary tumor (although I RARELY ever see pituitaries, unless I
do
the necropsy), and it was not clinically significant.
And, rarely can tumors in and around the pituitary result in
clinical
signs as a result of compression of the brain - the pituitary lives
in a small depression at the base of the brain. In dogs, these
tumors may cause blindness or seizures if they grow enough to
compress the overlying brain. Most commonly, they cause
clinical
signs referable to hormonal derangement, as the pituitary is the
site
of regulation of a number of hormones, including regulating the
release of adrenal hormones.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
2594:
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., AFERRETVET@c... wrote:
> The article also stated that it was JUST ONE DOSE
> of Lupron depot (monthly version), and it was not
> given on a monthly or frequent basis after that one dose.
> Plasma hormones levels were measured before and 3 to 6
> weeks after that 1 dose. This study was just to verify that the
> adrenal hormones were lowered by Lupron depot.
> Some of the ferrets had improvement for up to 8 months
> after just ONE dose. I agree with Dr Williams that this product
> is for those nonsurgical cases, but when given on a frequent
basis
> it also does a good job of controling the clinical signs for a
long
time.
> The article also states, "It is possible that repeated injections
may
> suppress clinical signs for prolonged periods..." which is what
I
have
> seen in the past 3+ years of using Lupron on adrenal ferrets.
Agreed. Another interesting fact in this article which does not
appear in the abstract is that the author states that adrenal gland
tumors in ferrets have LH (luteinizing hormone) receptors in
them,
which gives an insight as to why leuprolide may work in ferrets -
in
short, it suppresses pituitary production of LH, which may be a
trigger for hyperplasia or tumorigenesis in the adrenal cortex of
the
ferret.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., sstout1536@a... wrote:
> My Gidget had adrenal surgery on Tuesday. Doing very well.
> Problem is:
> Removed the one adrenal, but the other one is involved too.
Both were
> "swollen". We are now awaiting the biopsy results to see if the
adrenal
> gland was tumorous or just swollen.?. Vet says it may be
caused by pituitary
> gland tumor. EVER HEARD OF THAT??? Seems if it is
Pituitary related, we
> will be putting her on Lysogen rather than lupron.t but didn't.