Message Number: SG6208 | New FHL Archives Search
From: whiteweasel@earthlink.net
Date: 2003-10-03 18:58:38 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Spacey behavior after insulinoma surgery
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com, ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <14163038.1065207519550.JavaMail.root@skeeter.psp.pas.earthlink.net>

Hi, Jen, and everyone else,

> Koda is 6 or 7 years old (we took him in from another family so not sure of age)
>he had insulinoma surgery about 6 mo ago. In the last few days he has been
> showing the same symptoms he had before the surgery. Is this common?

Yes. Our vet claims that insulinoma always recurs. He doesn't believe surgery is
curative, though he's had cases where the ferret has gone two years without
symptoms or meds. Others, like our Kodo, showed symptoms again after just a
few months.

> Is it possible he needs another surgery?

Yes, it's possible. Your vet may choose to treat him medically with prednisone
and to not do surgery until a small to moderate dose no longer keeps his blood
glucose at a normal level. That's how our vet does it.

Koda does sound like he's having insulinoma symptoms again. I'd get him to the
vet and have his blood glucose checked and decide where to go from there.

All the best,
Caity and the notorious nine