From:
jviviano3@comcast.net
Date: 2003-09-08 02:01:00 UTC
Subject: Bilateral adrenalectomy
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <6298311.1062986460824.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
I have recommended a good friend to my vet, who is ferret-knowledgeable. Her ferret has been progressively losing fur for approximately a year, and she has been saving for an adrenalectomy. She took the ferret in, and the vet informed her that he would be performing a bilateral adrenalectomy, and the ferret would have to be on lifelong medication thereafter. My question: Is it a bit presumptuous to plan to remove both glands before even seeing them? The vet performs cryosurgery, so I know this is a safer method. And I also understand his point that once you remove one gland, odds are in favor of the other gland showing symptoms, and it will be necessary to go back in for the other...this has happened with my own ferrets. I am curious, though, what other vet's opinions are on this, because it seems as though it would be unnecessary to remove both, and to go through the trouble and expense of medication. Do we have any odds on the second gland also needing removal?
Thanks in advance,
Jennifer