From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2004-03-19 16:50:15 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] surgery dilemma
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20040319.120756.2868.14.kazpat1@juno.com>
Well unfortunately there are going to be bad stories about surgery.
I have had about 10 surgeries for adrenal done between my own
and rescue ferrets. I have not one bad outcome. I did have
2 die about 3 months later- one also had inflammatory bowel
disease, insulinoma, ulcers and the other was bilateral adrenal and died
2 months later from suspected Addison's crisis despite treatment.
Melatonin is great, and I think if it is working that is great too.
But what is going on in the inside is not known. My vet has
gone in and taken out the largest tumors on adrenals with very
little outward signs, in fact the one that did not make it was balding
a year before, then was surrendered and had a beautiful coat of fur
but with the history of balding I asked the vet to operate- I feel if the
surgery was done the year before there would have been a much better
outcome- I notice the most complications I see are from rescues that had
symptoms for a long time verses my personal that go in within a few weeks
of starting to show signs.
Many right sided ones already have grown into the vena cava and are
difficult to remove.
Some adrenal tumors are cancerous and if left inside can metastasize, and
spread into liver, or just get so big they interfere with blood
supply of vena cava.
I would not tell people to always operate, or always treat medically
but figure there are always two sides to the argument and
each case should be decided between the owner and the vet.
The medical treatments may
help decrease adrenal size, and maybe have a roll in slowing disease
progression- but are not a guarantee and maybe mask symptoms that
will now present too late to treat surgically.
On the flip side, in an older ferret you have to weigh life expectancy,
quality of life and possible post -op complications with your decisions.
Remember, in males they can get an enlarged prostate and get to the
point they can not pee. If medically treating a male and he starts
to strain, keep a very close eye and consider surgery early on in the
course of his treatment. Otherwise he may need emergency surgery
to allow him to urinate.
Patty
> edited>
> Deena,
> I lost my first ferret from a blood clot after her second
> adrenal
> surgery and that was my deciding factor in not going to surgery with
> another ferret
> of mine. > Holly
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