From:
whiteweasel@earthlink.net
Date: 2003-05-03 02:21:40 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Bilateral removal cont'd....
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3EB2EF74.20978.21C4826C@localhost>
Hi, Tanyam
> Though Harry was given the DOCP shot, I admit I am unaware what this shot is..
Another poster (Pam, I believe) told us that DOCP is the same as percoten.
> Sukie mentioned Florinef and Percorten - are these drugs necessary on top of the
> DOCP or are they instead of?
That would be instead of, as in either or. What Harry would get in addition to DOCP is
pediapred or prednisone. In some rare cases where a ferret does not respond to
prednisone a vet may substitute dexamethasone. My Pertwee is one of those cases.
He had his second adrenal surgery three years ago and ended up in an Addisonian
Crisis because he did not respond to prednisone at all. Dexamethasone proved to be
the right answer for him. He's been on a combination of dexamethasone and florinef
since April, 2000 and is happy, bouncy, and playful as ever.
> And finally one last question (and please bear with my lack of knowledge), can
> someone explain what it means when the right is cryo'd instead of removed? And why
> would cryo be better than complete removal?
Our vet chose NOT to do cryo on any of the right adrenal surgeries my ferrets have had.
In all three cases he chose to do a complete surgical excision and had to ligate the vena
cava. He says he does not believe cryo is a better procedure, and he does what he is
comfortable and successful with. Podo had his right removed at age seven and a half
and is doing brilliantly a year later. It may simply be that your vet is more comfortable
with cryosurgery, which is fine.
Cryo can be used to completely remove the right adrenal gland AFAIK. Our vet believes
that if you leave ANY of the gland in you also leave the disease in. That being said,
there may be cases where it simply is impossible to get it all without endangering the
ferret's life and removing as much as possible may be the best available solution to
relieve the adrenal symptoms as long as possible.
It really sounds like your vet knows what he or she is doing, FWIW. Of course, I am not
a vet, just a ferret owner who has had ferrets go through adrenal surgery more times
that I care to think about.
All the best,
Caity