From:
whiteweasel@earthlink.net
Date: 2003-05-04 14:57:02 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] insulinomas surgery
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3EB4F1FE.5513.3419302@localhost>
Hi, Lori, and everyone else,
> Question about insulinoma surgery: If missy does have the surgery does that mean
> she will be free and clear of insulinoma?
In the opinion of our vet, no. He does not believe insulinoma surgery is curative. It
does, however, relieve all symptoms of the disease for anywhere from a few months to a
few years. He does believe that the surgery is worthwhile, and based on my experience
with three ferrets who have had insulinoma, so do I.
Ker Avon has been symptom free and off all meds for almost a year so far, Podo is
symptom free since last summer, and while Kodo started showing symptoms after four
months we are now able to maintain him with a moderate dosage of prednisone, where
before surgery nothing we did brought his blood glucose back up. All three have had
markedly improved quality of life. FWIW, Avon is five, and Kodo and Podo are eight
and a half or so.
Please remember that a year for a ferret is like 10 years for us in terms of lifespan, so a
year or two is a big deal.
> Will she be taken off the pred.
Chances are that she will. If the surgery is successful she should be able to maintain a
normal blood glucose without any medication.
> Missy is in the early stages of insulinoma and has only showed signs of it for the
> passed three months.
Look at the archives. Most of the vets here believe that the earlier you have the surgery
done the better the chances of longer term success.
> When the vet diagnosed her he could not see any tumors in her pancreas. Will he find them
> when doing surgery, or no?
Probably. That was the case for all of our three who have had the surgery.
Please remember, I am not a vet, but I have been where you are. Podo, who had
surgery at
around age eight, has to be our poster child for insulinoma surgery. He bounces
around,
runs, plays, and wrestles like a kit again. That surgery rejuvenated him. If your vet feels
surgery is a good idea and Missy is strong I probably would go ahead in your shoes.
Our
ferrets are blessed with an excellent vet, so I tend to trust his judgement in these things.
Good luck to you and to Missy!
All the best,
Caity and the non-stop nine