Message Number: SG6028 | New FHL Archives Search
From: sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2003-09-10 21:30:16 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: Adrenalectomies
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3453989.1063229416300.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>

> 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.

True. Our biggest worry on that score would be lymphoma, of course, but he really doesn't seem ill except for his gastric problems so things could turn out to be fine and it's not worth worrying about what may or may not be as long as we know how to respond if he needs more help than anticipated -- which we do. All we can do is to wait for the pathology results.

> I still don't think we know what all the risk factors for adrenal
> disease are.

Well, the irony is that he may not even have true adrenal disease. It depends on why the blood vessels were as they were. It still had to come out. There was just too much risk not to do so.

> 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.

I'm really not convinced that makes a statistically significant difference over the general community (though I think that it COULD make such a difference if done right). Most of our's have been farm bred ones yet most never had adrenal growths or insulinoma andmost had good full active lives and compare well with the ones from private breeders and the reports from many private breeders. I DO think that it CAN make a difference when a private breeder has taken the time to keep extensive health and longevity histories, including of those not kept when possible, and has culled the lines which are less healthy. Sadly, way too many pay little attention to that. So, I think that while it is possible to get ones with their best shot from private sources who are careful I've noticed too many breeders who simply are not careful.

I do wonder at times how stresses as kits may play into later health, a problem which sometimes is in tandem with the source issue.

> We didn't know about the theory that true darkness helps the first few
> years we were ferret owners.

It is still only a hypothesis, of course, and I apologise if I have not beenn clear recently in that regard. I think I got used to people knowing it is hypothesis only still at this point, so if I wasn't clear enough on that score...

> 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.

Yes, it makes sense that those are maybe feeding into it. As far as early neutering is concerned, that is why there is hypothesis being tested (Dr. Deleny?) about whether giving a small bit of Lupron in the Spring when the natural mating cycle would start up might simulate the presence of gonads enough to help reduce onsets of some hormonal problems or delay them. It looks like we'll be among those trying that next Spring because our vet thinks that it may have promise.

> I'm sure
> not going to turn away a rescue or base an adoption decision when ours
> pass away based on these factors.

Yes, I understand and agree with you.

> Our vet believes nutrition and
> lighting are contributing, but less significant, factors.