Message Number: SG6049 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Shirley Hewett"
Date: 2003-09-12 21:57:42 UTC
Subject: Post insulinoma surgery treatment
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <000e01c37979$1111f8a0$f656ddcb@smhewett>

Tiny is a 7 year old sterilized male who started to "space out" then have h=
ind leg weakness a few days later. Because his owners live in a country to=
wn with no ferret knowledgeable vet, he was brought to me. One of my favou=
rite vets agreed to do surgery on him on Tuesday, because Tiny was in other=
wise excellent health. (It was a first for him because we don't see too ma=
ny insulinomas here in Australia.) The biggest surprise was that, apart fr=
om one tumour on the pancreas, the vet also removed a very large adrenal gl=
and. Tiny had been showing absolutely no adrenal symptoms. All other orga=
ns appeared normal. Tiny came home to me on Thursday and appeared well. =

This morning (Saturday) at 3 a.m. I found him having a seizure. I applied =
honey to his gums every few minutes and he recovered, drank a bowl of lacto=
se free milk laced with egg yolk, cream and Nutripet and is now happily exp=
loring the wood box in front of the fire. We will be going back to the vet=
as soon as he opens in 2 1/2 hours time.
How can I best advise my vet regarding further treatment at this stage? Is=
Tiny's seizure a sign that there are metastases in the pancreas or could i=
t be something that could pass? I guess Prednisone is in order, but what d=
ose? Any advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks,
Shirley.