From:
sukiec@optonline.com
Date: 2003-03-07 06:00:38 UTC
Subject: RE: ? about drugs vs surgery (long)
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <8997834.1047016838363.JavaMail.root@scandium>
We tend to usually base the choices between surgery and meds on the condition of the ferret and the types of problems seen rather than on age. BTW, 8 is like 80 for a human so it should be a surprise that some old age things do show up.
Usually -- okay, actually always in our family so far except for one boy something like 10 to 15 years ago who was in end stage lymphoma -- we do have surgery when there is problem urinating. That's simply so dangerous to leave in alone most. We've found the adrenal surgery to be curative of the prostate problems in our boys.
Since the vet will be in there anyway if you go for that surgery it makes sense to look around and to tackle other problems like insulinoma at the same time.
If there is time to continue the anesthesia safely then less critical things can be tackled. Some times it can be and sometimes it can't be.
If it is early insulinoma then surgery is curative about 60% of the time, and in our experience surgery is curative for adrenal neoplasias except when there is a malignancy like lymphoma which has spread.
So, after surgery the ferret may or may not come back at some point to needing insulinoma meds. I don't understand why you are thinking that adrenal meds like Lupron may be needed afterward. If it is a situation in which both adrenals are missing then it could be a matter of giving Pred and Florinef or Pred and Percorten, though, and that's not a major hassle or expense.
Yes, they get expensive. We've found that $3,000 in the last years is not unusual around here for our ferrets. That isn't always easy to swing, I know, but it's about the most rewarding expense I can think of, right up there with college education and medical care for other loved ones of any ilk.
I think from the way you worded things that perhaps right now your concern over him has hit you like a ton of bricks so you need to be kind to yourself as well while you adjust to this idea. That worry really does feel like a blow to chest sometimes, I know.