From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2004-11-22 19:37:03 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Lupron vs Surgery
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20041122193703.75439.qmail@web50804.mail.yahoo.com>
--- PHNAMX3@aol.com wrote:
> I have heard some say they would not put their
> little ones through surgery to
> remove the adrenal instead go with Lupron injections
> and I was wondering why not the surgery.
I have to wonder about that too. Of course, some
ferrets are poor surgical candidates. We opted for
lupron in Podo's case because of age (9.5 at the
time), and other medical conditions (cardiomyopathy
was the one that made surgery impossible). Our vet
has a success rate ~95% on adrenal surgeries. I
suppose if I had a vet with a poorer track record or
one in whom I had little confidence I might avoid
surgery.
It sure isn't to save money. Lupron is relatively
expensive and over the course of a year it will end up
costing more than the surgery would have, so it's not
a way to save money.
Other than that I think it's mainly fear that's
driving the desire to avoid surgery. Surgery is still
the only cure for adrenal disease. We've had seven
ferrets who have had that surgery, all successfully.
Two had to have second surgeries and both made it
through those as well. I fully understand the fear of
losing a ferret. I just sometimes think that fear
drives people to ultimately make poor decisions that
cost ferrets years off their lives.
All the best,
Caity and the fearsome foursome
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