From:
naturabella@stny.rr.com
Date: 2004-12-02 17:13:30 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: Shelby---heart trouble--supplements
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5598550.1102007610634.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Angie,
Has shelby had bloodwork done to confirm the insulinoma diagnosis? My ferret, Neeko, was diagnosed with insulinoma back in April of this year. His glucose value was borderline normal, so he had an insulin panel done to confirm insulinoma. Neeko (8 years old at the time) had exploratory surgery and the surgeons took part of his pancreas. He is now on a low dose of prednisolone and his glucose is still fine.
>From what I have learned about insulinoma, Shelby should not be intaking any sugar. Prednisone can be used to keep her glucose up, and surgery is an option depending on her health otherwise. Neeko has had good luck with Chicken baby food(Gerbers) he loves it and it is high in protein and fat, so it keeps his glucose up also. From what I have read, ferrets do not digest sugary things very well, and bird seed stool is a sign that she is not digeting something properly. Also, the supplements you give her? are they in an oil form? I used to give Ferretone oil supplement to Neeko and too much of it gave him ruuny stools.... just a suggestion....
Author wrote:
> well, after Troy Lynn suggested giving a little honey, it would seem that Shelby has insulinoma. I had described a reaction (I thought to Lasix) where she was rolling her head around and acting "out of her mind" which triggered the thought of low sugar. She is doing much better with feedings of duck soup with honey every 3 to 4 hrs. The only thing is now she has developed very runny seedy diarhea. Had a suggestion of coccidia but the vet says he thinks its the intake of all that sugar and pedialyte. He suggested amoxi and some imodium.
> I am at my wits end and just not sure what to do for her. She has made such a turn around in a few days, actually throwing fits biting the cage bars wanting out. Her hind end weakness isn't near as bad as it was either. Right now I'm just really worried about this diarhea thing.
> Help!