From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2003-09-10 16:51:22 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: Adrenalectomies
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <20030910125122.45c1cf4e.whiteweasel@earthlink.net>
On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 16:18:50 +0100 (BST)
sukiec@optonline.net wrote:
>
> It does not grossly appear like a malignancy, but he was unresponsive
> to a high dose Lupron depot which increases the chances that it might
> be.
One point you know, Sukie, but others may not. Even if it is a
malignancy, most adrenal carcinomas do not metastasize or spread in any
way. There are exceptions of course, and we had one, but even if it is
a carcinoma that does not change the usual excellent prognosis after a
successful left adrenalectomy.
> Pathology is the only way to know, of course, so we'll see what
> that tells us, about both the adrenal and his GI biopsies.
Please do post the results when you know them.
>
> So, we've had a second adrenalectomy as early as 3 1/2 years old now.
I still don't think we know what all the risk factors for adrenal
disease are. Adric and Lady Ayeka are five, Tenchi is closing in on
six, and Kodo is nine. None of them have had adrenal disease. Tenchi
and Adric were Marshall's pet store babies from back when we didn't know
any better. Lady Ayeka came from a bad situation, but she was a kit at
the time and is also a Marshall's.
Ker Avon, also a pet store baby, also from Marshall's, was all of a year
and a half old when he had his left adrenal gland out. Tell me: what
made Avon different from Tenchi and Adric? He eats the same food, gets
the same amount of darkness and light, gets the same amount of time for
exercise and play, etc... They've been together all their lives.
We didn't know about the theory that true darkness helps the first few
years we were ferret owners. We do much better with that now, though we
still let them run and play in our living areas until we humans go to
bed.
Pertwee, whom we took in at age five months, was a Triple F ferret and
has been our most medically challenged. His adrenal symptoms started
when he was one, and he had both adrenals out before he was two.
Ryo-Ohki (Marshall's) had adrenal surgeries at ages two and three and a
half and died due to metastasis of adrenal carcinoma.
We had two others have single adrenalectomies at age three and a half:
Nyssa, who was bred by a small, local breeder (gone now, thankfully)
known for "psycho biting ferrets" as one local ferret person put it, who
came to us with Lady Ayeka; and Romana, Triple F, a severely
undernourished kit we took in who was shipped way too early.
If someone could tell me what we did right for some and wrong for others
I really would like to know. Believe me, if I thought there was a way
to avoid putting these little ones through surgery I'd do it.
Our vet still believes the biggest factors working against our ferrets
are the small breeding pool used by most breeders and the early spaying
and neutering, both of which are beyond our immediate control. I'm sure
not going to turn away a rescue or base an adoption decision when ours
pass away based on these factors. Our vet believes nutrition and
lighting are contributing, but less significant, factors.
All the best,
Caity and the non-stop nine