From:
Teresa Knezek
Date: 2004-08-30 20:21:17 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] limit to surgeries? Adrenal again?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <ae202e7304083013217fc0f84d@mail.gmail.com>
On Mon, 30 Aug 2004 20:50:24 +0100 (BST), jchprocess@yahoo.com
<jchprocess@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi all
> Koda has had three surgeries for Adrenal tumors.
Disclaimer: I am not a vet, but IMO...
If he's already had three adrenal surgeries, it seems like both his
adrenal glands should have been completely removed by now, and he
should be on maintenance medication. Did your vet not completely
remove the adrenal glands during the previous surgeries? I understood
that was the 'normal' course of treatment when dealing with adrenal
problems surgically.
Generally, you hear of a ferret having one adrenal gland (sometimes
both) removed during surgery #1, possibly having a second surgery to
remove the remaining adrenal gland if it develops problems later,
and/or possibly having a second/third surgery if some diseased adrenal
tissue was accidentally left after one or both glands were removed...
but I've personally never heard of a case where a fourth surgery was
needed, because all the adrenal tissue had been removed during surgery
#2 or #3.
If your vet did not remove all the adrenal tissue, I would find out
why not, and possibly consider going to a vet who has more experience
with that type of surgery, so poor Koda can have it taken care of once
and for all.
-Teresa in Two Rivers