From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2004-03-04 01:45:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Virus/infections & Insulinomic response?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20040303.210338.3032.1.kazpat1@juno.com>
You may just have 3 older ferrets who have insulinoma, a tumor
on the pancreas that produces too much insulin.
you can have blood done for both a glucose and insulin level
to prove that is the cause.
The treatment is prednisone to help stabilize the blood sugars,
high protein diet, with extra supplementation between with
meat baby food, or something like Bob C's chicken gravy,
or similar food.
If you don't get them on meds, they will keep having seizures,
in the meantime you can have blood tests done and look for
other causes, but as long as their blood sugars keep dropping
they are at risk.
If you have a home glucometer, you can at least monitor the ups
and downs of the blood sugar.
I have 3 right now with insulinoma, 2 had surgery- both did very well
after surgery without meds. One is back on meds after 2 years.
If I get a bout of diarrhea, those with insulinoma have to be watched
closely.
And sometimes a sign of low blood sugar is nausea, and loose stools.
Not sure if the diarrhea is a sign of low blood sugar, a result of stress
because
of low blood sugar or just a diarrheal illness will further lower the
blood sugar
in those prone.
Anyway, if the diarrhea persisted then getting stool tests to help rule
out infectious
causes also can help pin point the cause.
Another thought is that they got into something, like a human medicine
that lowers
blood sugar, but that would be a one time thing. I would start
treatment,
and then look for a link if there is one to be found.
Patty
On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 03:45:39 +0000 (GMT) kssz1@aol.com writes:
> Hello-
> Have a strange sort of syndrome going on in my household and I was
> wondering if anyone has ever heard of a virus or infection which
> causes an insulinomic reaction in ferrets. I have 3 ferrets who
> have started having seizures or comatose states in the past 2
> months. They have had blood tests which show their glucose as being
> low but have not had the fasting test for insulinoma. They are
> being maintained on regular gruel feedings and one with Azium in
> addition to the feedings. The only other symptom, which started 2-3
> weeks after the insulinoma reactions, is diahrrea which has been
> solved with Metronidazole and Diaransyl. Their diet has not been
> changed recently and they are all being fed high quality foods and
> no treats. The only new thing in the past 5 months is moving into a
> new home. Today I had to rush one of my little girls to the vet in
> a horrible seizure- her glucose was tested at 16 (possibly from
> glucometer) and I have only seen her slightly comatose 1 month
> ago-no symptoms other than that and diarrhea. I have been doing a
> little research and came up with maybe the idea of sepsis? I cannot
> find much info. on it and am unsure if this could be one of the
> possibilities. Anyone have any ideas??
>
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