From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2004-02-17 20:36:09 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Insulinoma
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <20040217153609.5cb97dc6@nyssa.mizuhoradio.com>
On Tue, 17 Feb 2004 12:06:50 -0500
lwhittle@uoguelph.ca wrote:
> Bentley was recently diagnosed with Insulinoma
> and I was wondering what methods of treatment people have used.
Our vet has done surgery and has treated with medication (pediapred). His usual methodology is to start with pediapred like your vet did. If a low dosage isn't enough to relieve symptoms or if the pediapred doesn't work for the ferret he opts for surgery. If and when symptoms recur he starts pediapred again.
With a younger, otherwise strong ferret surgery may buy quite a bit of time before symptoms recur and you have to start medication. Our best case story for that was Ker Avon. He went two years after insulinoma surgery with no recurrence of symptoms and no meds. He died of lymphosarcoma which was unrelated.
Other cases: Our ferret Podo had insulinoma surgery at almost eight years old and got ten months before symptoms recurred and we had to start pediapred again. He's still on a much lower dosage of pediapred than before surgery and is still doing brilliantly more than a year and a half out. Not too bad for a nine year old. Kodo (surgery at age eight) had symptoms recur after four months but is also still on a lower dosage than before surgery. It's been a year and a half for him.
Our other story is Lady Ayeka. She was started on .1ml of pediapred (1mg/ml concentration). When her blood glucose went high we backed down gradually, as in all the way to .03ml once a day. We've had to increase her dosage twice since then and she's now on a whole .08ml once a day with no surgery. It's been two years and two months so far. Our vet has never seen this before and calls it "amazing".
> What works?
That seems to depend on the ferret, doesn't it? Needless to say I like our vet's approach. I know some vets (including our backup vet) believe in surgery as the first step.
> I have a prescription for Pediapred but I was
> told not to start it until I do blood work.
How was insulinoma diagnosed without blood work? How was blood glucose checked?
> Also, an ultra sound was recommended but is this necessary?
With a clear diagnosis of insulinoma our vet doesn't bother.
> Unfortunately, even if tumors that are
> removable are found, I don't know if I would be able to afford to have the
> surgery...
When Podo and Kodo had surgery I was unemployed. I worked out payments with our vet. See if you can do something like that. Your ferret may have many years left with proper treatment.
> I know that they end up coming back frequently anyway.
Eventually. Avon was three and a half when he had surgery. They didn't come back in the next two years. There are no guarantees with this but there is little doubt that sucessful surgery can extend life and improve quality of life. Podo had slowed way down before his surgery. You should see him bounce around and wrestle now at nine years young.
I should point out that before surgery your vet will need to do blood work to insure that there are no other conditions that will put your little guy at higher risk than most. Neither Kodo or Podo are surgical candidates any more.
The usual disclaimer applies: I'm not a vet. I'm just describing our experiences with our ferrets.
All the best,
Caity and the seven wonder weasels