From:
julie_fossa@yahoo.com
Date: 2004-10-20 08:29:53 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Lupron vs Predisone
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3444916.1098260993618.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Author wrote:
> Hi,
> Lupron is of no use to a ferret which has had both
> adrenal glands out.
This is not necessarily so... I have a male that has had both adrenals out. The right (12/03) involved clamping off the vena cava and repairing it. The gland was removed, not debulked.
Buttons continued to loose hair, getting oranger with skin crusties, by the week. I figured he had adrenal cells regenerating, so attempted to take him off of the Florinef. I couldn't even use a 1/2 tab dose. He still needs a full tablet every day with his 0.2 ml pred to thrive.
He was started on 100 mcg monthly Lupron Depot with no response. Increased to 125 mcg monthly with no response. He received a melatonin implant, and was upped to 250 mcg monthly Lupron, with still no response.
He is now getting 500 mcg monthly, and is still loosing hair. He is now completely bald on the rump. However, I feel the medication is keeping him active and feeling good, and that is what is more important than a full coat. I won't subject him to surgery again as he will be 7 in early Feb.
I have had two other bi-lateral ferrets that regrew one or both of their glands (found at necropsy), lost their coats again, didn't need florinef, and probably would have benefited from Lupron.
Julie
BTW, theory is, adrenal cells adhered to the adhesions surrounding his right gland, and while they aren't producing adrenal products to keep his electrolytes balanced, those cells are producing hormones that is making his coat fall out. Just a theory at this point.