From:
"Selina Hedgehog"
Date: 2004-06-18 17:26:52 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] RE: Help With Teddy Please!!!
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <BAY1-F142BfFvhR1SCr000705a1@hotmail.com>
I'm not really sure which our vet said Teddy had at this point...I was in
shock after he said he is sure he had cancer. He did mention "insulinoma"
and also "adrenal" cancer. The vet then said Teddy had this although he
doesn't show the typical hair loss that normally ocurs with this disease.
All this was new to us and I was numb.....the only thing I could hear was
"cancer". We don't know Teddy's age for sure...it is only a guess...but, he
looks very, very old and his teeth show much age...his eyes look old. He
seems to be happy, not in pain at all....he just doesn't play much at all,
he likes to cuddle and sleep. Every once in a while...he seems to develope
a fever for no reason.
Thanks for all the links and help, I've got some reading to do...
Kathy, Teddy and Kristen
----Original Message Follows----
From: sukiec@optonline.net
Reply-To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
To: ferrethealth@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.
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