Message Number: YG14330 | New FHL Archives Search
From: tanflgirl@aol.com
Date: 2002-06-30 10:25:00 UTC
Subject: Exploratory Surgery Advice Needed

Hi everyone,

I am writing because my Silky Bear, a 4 year, 8 month old marshall farms ferret is scheduled for exploratory abdominal surgery next Tuesday (July 9th). She has been exhibiting signs of adrenal and has been on Lupron for 3 months, more recently she began having episodes of low blood sugar, so of course we now suspect Insulinoma as well. She has not started on any meds for the insulinoma, as the vet wants to do the surgery first. Silky is a little girl, about 1 1/2 pounds. She was very active and has slowed down quite a bit since the low blood sugar started about 6 weeks ago. The bottom line is that I am scared to death. The vet says she will remove the adrenals if they are diseased, and remove whatever she can from her pancreas to relieve the insulinoma. In all of your ferret experiences, is this surgery the way to go, or should I just suggest that we start her on pred to combat the insulinoma? I hate to put such a sweet, small little girl through such a traumatic surgery if it won't really give her extended quality of life vs. medications. PLEASE HELP! I am so conflicted.

All the best to you and your fuzzy ones,

Shelby, Taz & Silky Bear