Message Number: SG3809 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Pam Sessoms
Date: 2003-03-29 17:05:45 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] diazoxide use
To: LITTLEDARLIN713@AOL.COM
cc: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <Pine.A41.4.44+UNC.0303291151410.47330-100000@login5.isis.unc.edu>

On Sat, 29 Mar 2003 LITTLEDARLIN713@AOL.COM wrote:
>
> Hello. I need some help with an older ferret that is on pred but not
> responding well to it. Our vet is putting him on diazoxide when it
> comes in on Monday. Does the diazoxide give good results?

I personally have had really good luck with diazoxide. Others have had
less good luck; some ferrets don't seem to respond at all. You won't know
unless you try it...

One stray thought about the lack of response to the pred. First, what
dose is it, and for how long has he been on it? If it's a low dose, or
he's only been on it for a short time, there might still be wiggle room.
Also, very occasionally someone mentions a ferret that doesn't respond to
prednisone but DOES respond to the very similar prednisolone. If I
understand correctly, prednisone is converted to prednisolone by the
liver, and rarely, ferrets seen to have a problem with this conversion.
I'd guess that means they have a liver problem. Anyway, when prednisolone
is given directly, the ferret responds. Brand-name Pediapred is
prednisolone. Might not hurt to check that out...

> Zen has had an ultra sound done, which didn't show any thing in his
> pancreas. Our vet wants another one done in a month.

I don't think that most insulinomas will show up well on an ultrasound,
although the really big ones might be seen. These can be pretty small
things. I think that the conventional wisdom with ferrets is that if they
have a couple of low blood sugars on the vet's equipment and the sample is
dealt with properly (delays in processing whole blood can result in
false-lows), there will be insulinoma. I usually prefer early surgery and
my vet has never suggested ultrasound to look for insulinomas. Does he
have outward signs of low blood sugar?

Definitely keep up the excellent work with the baby food - that really
helps.

Best wishes,
-Pam S.