From:
caitlynmaire@earthlink.net
Date: 2002-05-29 19:12:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Yet Another Insulinoma Case?
Hi, Erika,
I am not a vet, but I have two ferrets with insulinoma right now.
> On Sunday I came home from work to find Angus-a male rescue of
> undetermined age, but at least 5 years years plus beacause that's how
> long he's been with us, in a semi-comatose state.Totally
> limp,unresponsive,and drooling/foaming from the mouth.
Ker Avon was like that when he last crashed. Blood glucose was all of
31.
> he did a
> blood glucose and it came back a 67. I told him I didn't think that
> was extremely low. My vet, who is an exotic and who's conferred with
> Dr. Williams with regards to another fuzzy of ours who is ill with
> IBD, feels the normal range is 80-120.
That is correct AFAIK. Anything below 80 is indicative of insulinoma.
> Long story short,the ER vet administerd a 50 % DExtrose
> solution and within 2 hours Angus was eating, drinking and charming
> thier staff with his antics.
That describes Avon's last crash to a tee. A couple of hours later he
felt fine.
> We picked him up and the vet said he felt insulinoma
> was the culprit and to definately follow up with our vet.
That sounds right to me.
> Someone wrote that they've seen fuzzies
> act normally at levels of 30. When the ER vet ran a second blood
> glucose, the number was 87.
Blood glucose does go up and down in ferts with insulinoma, After that
dextrose, or after food, it will go up. That doesn't mean Angus doesn't
have insulinoma. We have seen Lady Ayeka with a blood glucose as high
as 130 since she was diagnosed. She's also had a reading of 29 once and
39 another time. With a blood glucose of 39 she still got around just
fine. Ker Avon crashed the first time with a blood glucose of 47.
Different ferrets react differently to low glucose levels. Ayeka had
never crashed hard like Avon has, but she's had lower blood glucose.
> I just wanted some feedback
> and opinions as to whether this episode and his past indicate
> insulinoma.
It sounds like it. That blood glucose reading of 67 seems to say that
it is.
> He eats and drinks heartily-maybe too much.
When they feel good they will eat normally. Lady Ayeka is a little
fatty right now, but she still has insulinoma.
The good news is that your regular vet will probably be able to treat
Angus, either with surgery or medically, and keep him happy for some
time to come.
Good luck!
Caity and the notorious nine