Message Number: SG3625 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2003-03-13 14:55:57 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Onion back from vet again.
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Cc: annamfuller@hotmail.com
Message-Id: <20030313095557.78965684.whiteweasel@earthlink.net>

On Thu, 13 Mar 2003 00:46:10 +0000 (GMT+00:00)
annamfuller@hotmail.com wrote:

> well, onion had an ultrasound and it showed two ballooned adrenal
> glands. my vet didn't give me much hope. he said that it would be
> extrememly difficult for onion to cope with no glands.

Huh? Pertwee has "coped" with no glands for three years now. I think
your vet simply isn't aware of the treatment and potential problems for
bilateral adrenalectomies. You expressed a concern that your vet wasn't
too knowledgeable on a previous post. I now agree with that assessment.

> we took yet
> another tumour out of his tummy. they want to give him shots. once a
> month. but surgery is pretty much out of the question.

WHY? Surgery is the only cure. Onion would then be on florinef and
prednisone to replace the missing adrenal products and maintain his
electrolytes, but he'd be free of adrenal disease. If there are other
medical problems besides adrenal disease then perhaps Onion may not be a
surgical candidate, but it sounds like your vet doesn't believe a
bilateral adrenalectomy is possible. I know quite a few ferrets in this
area who are living proof that it isn't so.

> (this is advice
> given by Guelph U.) can anyone give any feedback? i don't want to lose
> him.

Yes! Find a more ferret-knowledgeable vet. Travel if necessary.

All the best,
Caity and the non-stop nine