From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2003-11-11 03:22:45 UTC
Subject: Re: Diabetes treatment
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <54.1c141778.2ce1b005@cs.com>
HI Patty,
You have asked some good questions about how
to treat your ferret with diabetes. I will try to answer
them.
1) What type of insulin to use? This is a very good question.
The short answer is PZI VET insulin from Idexx.
NPH is an intermediated-acting insulin, and it is the best
insulin for dogs. Ultralente insulin is a long acting insulin,
and it is the second choice for cats and ferrets. The PZI VET
insulin is a beef insulin product that is the first choice for cats
and ferrets. Interestingly there has been very little work done
with ferret insulin. Cat insulin is very close to cow insulin.
That is why PZI works well in cats. I have asked Dr James Fox
(the lab vet at MIT) about which insulin is closet to ferret insulin,
but that research just has not been done. However in my
experience the PZI VET insulin works best, so perhaps ferret
insulin is close to cat (and cow) insulin. I would recommend starting
at 1 Unit/ferret 2 times a day of the PZI VET insulin. PZI is a 40 unit
per ml (U-40) product, so you will need U-40 syringes.
2) What diet should I use? The "ideal diet" for diabetic ferrest
would have a high protein content 50-60%, high fat 30-40%, with
a very low carbohydrate content only 1-5%, vitamins/minerals/etc.
Thus Gerber's baby food, Hill's a/d, and the new Pretty Bird ferret
food should be used as a supplement or as the main diet. Also treats
need to be low carbohydrate such as cooked meats, cooked eggs,
canned tuna/chicken/salmon, baby food, a/d. The new Hill's canned
m/d or Purina canned DM may also be good options.
3) What about chromium? Chromium or brewer's yeast has insulin
like activity and can help lower the glucose level. A suggested dose
of chromium is 20-200 mcg/ day, divided and mixed in with the food.
4) What about Lupron? If your ferret is showing signs of adrenal
gland disease then I would recommend Lupron (or surgery when
you get the glucose regulated). A small percent (~5%) of ferrets
with adrenal gland disease will overproduce cortisol. Cortisol will
elevate the glucose level and may cause diabetes.
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM