From:
caitlynmaire@earthlink.net
Date: 2002-06-30 13:26:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Exploratory Surgery Advice Needed
Hi, Shelby,
> 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.
That sounds like a vet who knows what she is doing. Ker Avon is minus
his left adrenal gland and one lobe of his pancreas, and he thinks the
world is fine without any meds at all. Pertwee is minus both adrenal
glands and his right kidney, and again, he thinks the world is a big
playground. Podo had his right adrenal gland out at age seven and a
half, and chases down and pounces on other ferrets. Nyssa and Romana
both had left adrenal glands removed. They are still here and doing
well.
My point: in the hands of a skilled vet, your ferret Silky Bear will
likely come through this OK and be just fine. Does that mean you
shouldn't be scared? I know I am whenever one of my ferrets goes in for
surgery. There is always a risk and always a chance that something may
go wrong. With a good vet that chance is thankfully pretty small.
> 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'd go the surgery route if Silky Bear has no other problems (like a
heart condition) that could make the surgery risky. Your vet will no
doubt examine her thoroughly and do pre-surgical blood work to make sure
that her chances are good.
I really am surprised she was started on lupron in the first place.
That only masks symptoms but doesn't slow the progress of the adrenal
disease. Since she's relatively young our vet would probably have done
surgery rather than the lupron right off. The good news is that now
she'll only have to go through surgery once.
Do a search on insulinoma surgery advice by Dr. Bruce Williams in the
archive. He's certainly an expert, and he advises surgery sooner rather
than later for insulinoma.
> 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.
1.5 lbs. isn't small!!! Romana is always right around a pound and she
had no problems with adrenal surgery.
Oh, and yes, I believe the surgery should both extend Silky Bear's life
and improve her quality of life.
I am, of course, not a vet. I just have faced similar decisions 14
times so far, opting for surgery 13 times out of 14. I believe in every
case but Ryo-Ohki's, surgery extended the lives of my ferts. They all
seem happy and bouncy to me.
Good luck to you and to Silky Bear.
All the best,
Caity and the notorious nine