From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2004-05-21 05:18:11 UTC
Subject: Adernal surgeries where both glands look normal
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20040521051811.53907.qmail@web50807.mail.yahoo.com>
> -- the vet refused to remove either gland
> because they both appeared grossly normal.
That is precisely what our vet does.
>
> I have heard numerous times from veterinarians that
> the left adrenal is the affected gland in most
> cases, and that if the vet is in doubt, to remove
the
> left gland.
According to our vet that used to be the conventional
wisdom but it no longer is. He is now convinced that
there are almost as many right as left glands
affected. He also does not want to ever make a ferret
Addisonian/bilateral unless absolutely necessary. A
second adrenal surgery is a rough recovery at best and
in some cases where it's difficult to get electrolytes
in balance the ferret goes through hell until that
gets straightened out. We went through that with both
Pertwee and Ryo-Ohki. I wouldn't wish that on
anyone's ferret. Oh, and yes, electrolytes did end up
in balance and we had correct dosages for meds -- a
month later.
> I don't mean to be argumentative, but in my
> experience
> the common assumption that an animal will be able to
> undergo another sugery at a later date is not a good
> one to make.
I think it's better to take that risk than risk taking
the wrong gland. I know that's how our vet feels and
he has 34 years of experience.
I am not a vet, but of the 11 ferrets we've had over
the past seven years we've seen adrenal disease in six
of them by age eight. Two of them had second
surgeries.
All the best,
Caity and the super six
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