Message Number: YG13826 | New FHL Archives Search
From: miamiferret
Date: 2002-06-14 18:22:00 UTC
Subject: Re: New Member, Insulinoma.

You should have seen some results from the pred by now for sure.
Actually, the first day. 0.2ml is a fairly small dose (assuming
1mg/ml concentration)and she may need more. A second glucose test
may be in order to see if her level has gone up at all and if not,
ask your vet if you can increase the dose. You're at the low end so
you have lots of room to go up on the pred.

Also, pred must be given with food and if you're not doing that, it
may be contributing to gastric irritation which may be causing her to
grind her teeth.

Time to get out the chicken baby food you already have and feed her
that. She'll probably hate it initially, but with persistence, you
can get some in her. Warm the baby food slightly and feed it to her
off your finger, wiping it into the sides of her mouth if she won't
take it willingly (and she probably won't at first). This is very
high in protein and will help her to maintain better glucose levels.
It's also bland and will probably help her tummy feel better. It's
also handy to mix the pred right into the chicken baby food so she
gets the meds and food at the same time and solves the "give pred
with food" problem.

Eventually, she'll decide that chicken baby food really isn't poison
and it won't be a battle to get her to eat it. I wouldn't bother
with the 8-in-1 canned food though it's probably better than not
eating at all. I doubt there's much chicken in it. The baby food is
definitely better.

I don't think getting ready for a goodbye is necessary at this time!
Surgery for insulinoma is an option, and if for some reason your vet
feels that's not appropriate, there is the increase of pred available
plus Proglycem if necessary. Good nutrition is very important too.

mike


--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., Batine DeWinter <vazdru@b...> wrote:
> great. The Doc sent home prednisone and clavamox for her. Twice a
day on
> both, around.2 ccs for both doses. She's been on this since Wed.
night now,
> and I'm not seeing her feel any better. She's still grinding her
teeth, and
> only eats when I shove it under her nose.