Message Number: SG5998 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2003-09-08 15:31:17 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Bilateral adrenalectomy
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <20030908113117.4d53aee7.whiteweasel@earthlink.net>

On Mon, 8 Sep 2003 03:01:00 +0100 (BST)
jviviano3@comcast.net wrote:

Hi, Jennifer, and everyone else,

> 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?

Our vet would not only say yes, but he would probably object very
strenuously. He does not believe in making Addisonian ferrets unless
absolutely necessary. I know from experience with my two who had both
glands out (one at a time) is that it is an incredibly difficult
recovery for the ferret until electrolytes are in balance. Our vet also
says that without adrenal glands ferrets are less able to deal with
stress since the adrenals are where adrenaline is produced.

If I were your friend I would get a second opinion.

> The vet performs cryosurgery, so I know this is a safer method.

Our vet would disagree. He abandoned cryosurgery because he felt, in
the case of the right gland, it was difficult to get absolutely all of
it without touching the vena cava. He prefers conventional surgery and
has a success rate in excess on 95%. He's done adrenal surgery on six
of our ferrets, a total of eight surgeries, and all made it through just
fine.

> 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

Not so. In our own business six ferrets have had adrenal disease out of
the 10 we've had over the past six years. Only two had recurring
symptoms, and one of those went a year and a half before the symptoms
showed up again. Ker Avon had his left adrenal gland out in February,
2000 and has had no problems since. Nyssa and Romana (both left
adrenalectomies) are past two years without problems, and Podo (right
adrenalectomy) is past one year.

Again, our vet strongly believes that you do not remove glands which are
not diseased.

FHL rules prohibit me from naming the vet in question, but he is
extremely well known and only has about 30 years experience treating
ferrets.

All the best,
Caity