From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2003-11-11 04:01:23 UTC
Subject: Re: Prostate treatment
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <c9.39f52478.2ce1b913@cs.com>
Hi Cathy,
You have asked some good questions about
how to treat a prostate problem in your adrenal
boy.
I would recommend surgery to remove the adrenal(s)
and to check the prostate. If the prostate has a large
cyst or abscess then marsupialization can be done. If
the prostate has a small cyst or abscess then
omentalization can be done.
If there is a problem that prevents surgery then medical
treatment can be done. I would use Lupron to get the
adrenal gland(s) under control, Propecia to get the DHT
level lowered, and melatonin. Melatonin can be used with
Lupron and with Propecia. Yes, you can raise the amount of
melatonin to 2mg. The main side effect is lethargy.
Propecia will take about 1 month to get the prostate smaller
and ~4 months to reduce it by ~50%. It is very safe. 1 study
gave beagles 45mg/kg/day for 53 weeks with no side effects.
You indicated that you could not afford Lupron yet were going
to do bloodwork and x-rays. I would suggest you spend your
money on Lupron instead. As the prostate gets big, your vet
will be able to palpate it. Lupron is also a very safe product,
so I would not expect side effects from it either.
I do not know if a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test would
work with ferrets. There has been no studies that I am aware
of to validate this test in ferrets.
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM