From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2004-05-21 05:10:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] 8 yr old female with adrenal tumor
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com, zevronn@erols.com
Message-ID: <20040521051000.64945.qmail@web50805.mail.yahoo.com>
Hi, Zev, and everyone else,
Podo had right adrenal surgery (conventional surgery
with vena cava ligation) a few months before his
eighth birthday. That was two years ago. He's still
here :)
A member of our club has a ferret who had her left
adrenal gland out at age nine and a half. The ferret,
now just about 10, is home recovering from a second
adrenal surgery (yes, with vena cava ligation -- same
vet) and a nephrectomy (unilateral polycystic disease,
the fourth case I know of). We'll see how well she
does over time but she is still alive and kicking.
So.. is eight too old? Maybe yes, maybe no. If your
girl is otherwise healthy and strong surgery may be
the best answer still. If there is even the slightest
doubt about how good a surgical candidate she is I'd
skip it and opt for lupron. That's what we've done
with Podo (now nine and a half) as he has
cardiomyopathy and simply could not survive surgery.
If you decide to consider surgery don't skimp on any
pre-op diagnostic work your vet wants to do. It's
money well spent to make sure she's healthy enough to
go through this at her age. Extensive blood work (a
full CBC at least) is something I'd expect.
Also, if you do opt for surgery and don't have
previous experience with bilateral adrenalectomies
please read through the archives and all the posts on
surgically induced Addison's Disease and Addisonian
Crisis. The recovery from a second adrenal surgery
can be rough even on a young, healthy ferret. You
want to make absolutely sure you know what to look for
and have plans in case she starts showing Addisonian
symptoms at night or on the weekend.
Good luck! In your situation I honestly don't know
what I'd do. I'd certainly discuss it at length with
our vet and I'd probably trust his judgement.
All the best,
Caity and the super six
(Adric, Podo, Nyssa, Lady Ayeka, Romana, and newcomer
Chin Soon, our latest rescue)
__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Domains Claim yours for only $14.70/year
http://smallbusiness.promotions.yahoo.com/offer