From:
Kym Barone
Date: 2002-06-15 19:13:00 UTC
Subject: [Ferret-Health-list] Lupron in older ferrets
Hi Julie -
I didn't mean that it willl never be effective in older ferrets - I am
glad you questioned what was written if it was taken that way. What I
have found is that Lupron has worked in some ferrets and shown no
improvement in others. It seems to be the older ones that respond less
to it, but by no means does it only work in younger ones and not in the
older ones. I've seen younger ferrets on it not respond also. Sukie can
comment more about the medical reasons that she may be aware of - I just
sort of came to a *non-scientific* conclusion that it had more to do
with how long the ferret has had adrenal disease perhaps - we used
Lupron on ferrets fostered out from the shelter that weren't good
surgical candidates, so these ferrets were those that came into the
shelter and we didn't know how long they'd had adrenal problems.
Additionally, many ferrets have adrenal disease that don't show symptoms
for sometimes years and in the older ones, they may have advanced
adrenal disease and the Lupron just doesn't help. Please note, this is
all a very non-scientific guess on my part and not backed up by medical
data!!! In the ferrets that Lupron was not responding on, we'd turn back
to surgical options. It was basically a guess with our older foster
ferrets - should we risk surgery or try lupron.
My suggestion is that if you have an older ferret and you feel that
surgery is not the best option, DO try the Lupron, if the ferret
responds to it - great!! If after three or four months, however, there
is no improvement, you may want to re-think the surgical option. It
seems to be an owners-preference kind of decision to make. :o)
Kym
Ferret Mommy to 20
L'il Grunt, Kerplunk, Mookie, Mikayla, Marty, Tanglefoot, Tumbleweed,
Corky, Tequila Sunrise, Squirt, Piggly Wiggly, Trouble Too, Muse,
Patchwork Princess, Boo, Homer, Connie, Bonnie, Sallie, and Tangerine
Twist
Meet the kids: http://www.ferretmommy.com <http://www.ferretmommy.com/>
-----Original Message-----
From: Julie Cameron [mailto:Ruesterx1@h...]
Sent: Saturday, June 15, 2002 1:00 PM
To: Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com
I was really surprised to hear Sukie's and Kym's comments on Lupron not
being very effective in older ferrets. I hadn't heard that before, but
have
been wondering. I have had 3 ferrets over the age of 8 who have or had
been
receiving Lupron and none of them ever regrew any hair. I have one now
who
is about as bald as can be. She has had 3 (4month, 2mg doses) in the
past
year, I kept hoping it would help. I have thought that it has helped
with
the itchiness and red patches on her skin so I have continued to use it.
What I am wondering, is it just a waste of money at this point, what do
all
of you do when your older ferrets don't regrow hair and can't have
surgery,
do you still give the Lupron in hopes that it is doing some good
internally?
Thanks in advance,
Julie
_