From:
Ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2003-12-02 05:07:33 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Digest 2 Dec 2003 03:21:56 -0000 Issue 511
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <29.4c588e17.2cfd7815@aol.com>
In a message dated 12/01/03 10:24:12 PM Eastern Standard Time,
ferrethealth-digest-help@smartgroups.com writes:
My vet suggests that I treat with pred rather than partial removal of the
pancreas, because the surgery would be invasive and there's no way to know if it
will do any good, as the cancer may have spread throughout the pancreas. I
don't want to subject him to a traumatic surgery if it will not improve his
quality of life, on the other hand...if it will help, I'll do whatever is needed.
According to my vet, if I just treat with pred, the lifespan from diagnosis is
maybe a year, probably less and if we do the pancrectomy, it's about the
same....
That is incorrect. The lifespan with a partial pancreatectomy is
significantly greater than with nodulectomy or certainly with medication alone. I have
had ferrets doing well two or three years post-op. My recommendation would be
to find a vet who is comfortable with doing the partial pancreatectomy and go
for it.
Dr. Ruth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find it. Fix it. And fly again.