From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2003-07-20 01:32:46 UTC
Subject: RE: JIgs needs help
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7066483.1058664766918.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Okay, Angie, first off, those volumes tell us nothing about dose. Pred comes in different concentrations. How much is he getting in mg amounts (how many mg/ml)? Unless this is incredibly concentrated Pred rather than the standard Pediapred the dose you mention is low. We've had a ferret who was a tiny one eventually be on doses as high as 5 mg per day with the tail end of advanced insulinoma and simultaneous lymphoma so I think that you likley have room for moving up in dose. Pred is like Lasix in that many ferrets tolerate much higher doses of it than were known back in the late '90s. Even then the dosing in at least one vet text (Dr. Karen Purcell's) was 0.10 mg to 2.5 mg per kilogram twice a day.
Pred can be given as often as every 8 hours if that is needed for better coverage, but it usually isn't.
When the larger doses of Pred don't work, Proglycem can be used in addition.
Some ferrets don't respond to Prednisone but do respond to Prednisolone which doesn't have the extra liver processing step.
Surgery is usually a better way to go especially in early insulinoma.
Yes, do get the heart checked and look in the Files section at http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth for the write-ups on two heart conditions to find an affordable cardiac consultant who has worked a decent bit with ferrets if your vet doesn't have one.
End of ferrethealth Digest
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