From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2004-12-06 18:09:22 UTC
Subject: RE: adrenal surgery vs melatonin implants
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7381856.1102356562120.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Adrenal surgery is the only definite cure.
Lupron shots appear to shrink certain types of adrenal tumors but not others.
Melatonin is a treatment for some symptoms. It might slow tumor growth some but it might not -- check Dr. Jerry Murray's posts to find out since he's the best resource I know on endocrinological things in ferrets. The last I heard there is not indication of it having an effect on existing tumors, though -- like enough complete darkness, and like Lupron -- it can be used as a preventative.
If you are uncomfortable with your vet have you considered using the assorted listings of vets which are available. They aren't necessarily as up to date as a person would desire, but they often help.
http://www.ferretcongress.org (crit refs but there is a lot more there)
http://www.supportourshelters.org
http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/ferrethealth/ReferenceShelf/FerretVets.htm
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/vets/ Search by zip code, read FAQ first.
http://www.quincyweb.net/quincy/vet.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/vets.htm
http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-vets.html
http://www.ferretuniverse.com/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/houseferrets13uk/Vets.html UK vets
http://www.ferrets.org/Veterinarian_Listings.htm British Columbia vets
http://www.ferretnews.org/clinic.html California-specific
http://www.ferretsanonymous.com/medical.html California
Look in the FHL Archives for posts from Dr. Jerry Murray (AFERRETVET in the from box). Searching is easy. You can use as many of the search-on boxes as you desire, anything from just one if you don't know more particulars about what you want to all of the categories.
Here is the address for this list's archives:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
With a 2 year old -- actually with most ages -- we always go with surgery unless there is a medical reason which makes it dangerous. Then again, we have long had good vets and we know the ins and outs of post-surgical care for ferrets.