From:
<caitlyn@mizuhoradio.com>
Date: 2003-12-04 19:02:28 UTC
Subject: Lupron
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <54311.155.226.255.42.1070564548.squirrel@www.mizuhoradio.com>
Hi, everyone,
I am going to break a personal rule (meaning one I made for myself, not a
moderator's rule) about the FHL: one I thought I would never break. I am
going to go out on a limb and disagree with a vet. I am doing so because
the discussion I had with our vet who's been treating ferrets for something
in excess of 30 years contradicts what a respected vet posted here. I am
not saying who is right or who is wrong. I am pointing out a difference of
opinion.
I believe I am the one who posted the "misconceptions" Dr. Murray referred
to in the discussion of Lupron. I've just discussed Lupron at length with
our vet because, if Podo's hair loss continues or if other adrenal symptoms
appear, we will be starting him on Lupron, possibly in combination with
melatonin. Podo is nine, already has had his right adrenal gland out a year
and a half ago, and at his age and in his present condition he simply is not
a good surgical candidate nor is he at a point where he would make it
through the difficult recovery sometimes associated with the second adrenal
gland coming out.
When I said that Lupron is not a cure and that it only masks symptoms I am
echoing the information given to me by our vet. He does not report 80% of
ferrets he treats responding well to Lupron. He reports a minority of
ferrets responding well. He believe Lupron only to be a good choice when
surgery is out of the question.
I cannot explain the differences in the results he sees and the results Dr.
Murray sees. I am certainly not qualified to understand why there is such a
difference of opinion nor am I qualified to contradict Dr. Murray myself. I
wish our vet would post here but he chooses not to. I know he lurked here
at one point but I'm not at all sure he even does that any more.
I'm not sure the term "misconception" is accurate. It seems that there is a
difference of opinion amoung qualified vets.
I will repeat one thing from my previous post: if Cookie were mine and if a
diagnosis of a recurrence of adrenal disease was pretty well confirmed I
would be looking into surgery, not Lupron, if Cookie is strong enough to
have a good chance of coming through OK.
All the best,
Caity and the exuberant eight