Message Number: SG9207 | New FHL Archives Search
From: sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2004-06-18 17:26:52 UTC
Subject: RE: Help With Teddy Please!!!
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <7820569.1087579612065.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>

Here are some additional fine places to read up on insulinoma.

The growths would be in the pancreas.

You mentioned kidneys. The adrenals are near them. Does your vet also suspect an adrenal neoplasum?

More important than age is general physical health. Some old ones are fine surgical candidates whereas some young ones who do badly on their CBCs with Chem Panels or heart checks, or have known problems are lousy surgical candidates.

If you would like to read up on insulinoma and adrenal growths here are great places to do so:

http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
(the Archives of this list, the FHL) and on this score for a ferret who is not a surgical candidate I would recommend being extra sure to read posts from AFERRETVET to understand the strengths and limitations of medical alternatives to surgery for adrenal growths and their complications.

http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
which has really marvelous and comprehensive articles that are likely to answer almost any question you have

http://www.miamiferret.org
which is easily searched and incredibly comprehensive

http://www.ferretcongress.org
with critical reference links that should be a real help to you.

With early insulinoma sweets are avoided except during low sugar crashes, and the meds used are Prednislone and Diazoxide. Sometimes Diazoxide is not added till later and then it pays to have a small amount compounded by a compounding pharmacy (See the reference shelf section of FIles in
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
to find compounding pharmacies which help ferrets.) Expect to have to adjust medication doses w progression.
Notice that I mention Prenisolone instead of Prednisone. That is because it skips a liver processing step. Ferrets who are older, have been through some rough disease, have been starved or simply unable to process food right, etc. can benefit from Prednisolone instead of Prednisone -- more effective. Note, also that ferrets are NOT prone to the side effects of Prednisolone the way other mammals often are and can tolerate very large doses at times. On this score be sure to save and copy the posts of Dr. Bruce Williams in the FHL Archives (first addy given) by using williams in the search's "from" box. Hope this helps.