From:
Imfifth@aol.com
Date: 2003-10-28 18:25:25 UTC
Subject: Not responding to Lupron
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <43.24079036.2cd00e95@aol.com>
I took in a 6 year old female ferret several months ago. I was told before
taking her in that she was adrenal and that her owners just couldn't give her
the care that she needed. I was told that she was up to date with all
vaccinations and that she had been "diagnosed" with adrenal disease. It turns out
that she had only been to the vet twice in 6 years, once for an exam when they
first got her and once for an emergency blockage about a year later.
My hope was for surgery but after x-rays and bloodwork the doctors didn't
think she was a good surgical candidate. The x-rays showed an enlarged, globoid
heart. I don't have her blood results here in front of me but some of the
numbers concerned my vet. We've had 3 monthly Lupron shots and she's miserable.
I've seen no improvement at all, in fact her itching and her aggression have
worsened. She's also not tolerating the trips to the vet very well, she gets
frightened to the point of urinating all over everyone and she lunges to bite
anyone she can get near. At home she's very aggressive to both people and other
ferrets. She's either sleeping or itching all of the time. At the last vet
visit the doctor contemplated surgery again and she's just not comfortable
that this ferret will do well. Do I have any other options? Should I take the
surgical risk based on the fact that I have to do SOMETHING to make her more
comfortable?
Dawn