Message Number: SG10314 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2004-08-29 18:37:16 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Adrenal probs/ estradiol/Lupron.. Help!!
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <15091334.1093805488661.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>

Hi, Teresa, and everyone else,
>
> recently my almost 1 yr old albino ferret was quite
> itchy and acting odd and I went through several vets
> before I could find one I thought was trustworthy
> and knowledgeable enough...
> I had her do a cbc (for isulinoma) which was fine,
> and I also had her do the Tennessee Panel for a
> poss. adrenal prob because I wanted to know for sure
> that that could be ruled out. She didn't want ot do
> it at first since he was "so young" and it seemed
> odd that he would have adrenal problems.

It's not at all odd. It's sadly way too common.
Pertwee started showing symptoms before his first
birthday. Ker Avon had surgery at a year and a half
old.
>
> She said he was too young to have surgery done

Nonsense. Our vet has done successful adrenal surgery
on ferrets as young as six months,

> she wouldn't do it (which makes nooo sense)..

Yes, it makes perfect sense if she in uncomforatble
with her ability to do the surgery successfully. IMHO
it is time to find a more experienced vet even if it
means travelling to one a few hours away.

> she said
> maybe a shot of Lupron once a year during breeding
> season would help with his syptoms and for any
> future probs with his adrenal glands.

It will help with symptoms. It won't cure the
disease. The tumor will keep growing. If it's a
carcinoma it may even metastasize. He may develop
prostate problems. Not doing the surgery in an
otherwise healthy young ferret makes no sens to me at
all. Avon went the rest of his life after than left
adrenal surgery with no further problems. Nyssa is
coming up on four years since her surgery, once again
with no further problems.

All the best,
Caity and the fantastic four