Message Number: SG10982 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2004-10-07 16:45:31 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Dexamenthesone dosage? Side effects?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <21648882.1097178028733.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>

--- cyprus4211@aol.com wrote:

> I was wondering if any vets out there or people who
> have used Dex instead of Pred can give me some info.
> I have discussed using Dex instead of pred for my
> insulinomic ferret.

We used dexamethasone instead of prednisone to balance
Pertwee's electrolytes after his second adrenal
surgery. He just plain didn't respond to pred at all.
I have no experience using it for insulinoma.

I had heard that dexamethasone is stronger than
prednisone and has more risk of side effects, but...
in nearly four years on dex Pertwee never had any side
effects at all that we can tell. It certainly kept
him alive and happy.

I am not a vet, nor do I play one on TV. I don't have
an insulinoma-specific answer, sorry.

All the best,
Caity and the furious foursome

[Moderator's Note: there is a past vet post that Dex is less strong ofr modifying
glucose levels; of course, individuals vary. See
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=YG1399 ]