Message Number: SG12444 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2005-01-19 19:01:47 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Update on Cookie
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com, linsto@hotmail.com
Message-ID: <20050119190147.9694.qmail@web50805.mail.yahoo.com>

Hi, Linda, and everyone else,

> She's an older vet with more experience with ferrets
> and she really believes surgery is the best option.
> She's very confident that they can do it without any
> problem. But if they do the surgery on the right
> side ... they'll remove ALL the gland !!!

That is precisely what they are supposed to do.
According to our former (now retired) vet in NC if you
leave in any of the gland you also leave in the
disease. You want every last bit gone.
>
> She seems to be a good vet and I think I can trust
> her for surgery. I'm more afraid of THE DAY AFTER

Exactly. Go through the FHL archives at
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org and read everything you
can on Addison's Disease and Addisonian Crisis. That
way you will be ready if Cookie has a problem with
electrolyte balance and you will be able to react in
time.
>
> This vet doesn't do the vena cava ligation : if a
> part of the tumor is on the big vein, she'll remove
> all the right gland and leave the part of the tumor
> on the vena cava in there.

That is NOT good. You need the entire tumor removed,
whether by conventional surgery with vena cava
ligation or cryosurgery.
>
> After reading on Adrenal for more than one year now,
> I'm convinced that surgery is the best option but
> .....

I agree, but... I'd look for another vet that can
remove the entire gland even if it means travelling
farther with Cookie. Just make sure there is someone
locally who can do emergency care if Cookie were to go
Addisonian.

Our Pertwee lived four years plus with no adrenal
glands. If this surgery and the aftercare is done
correctly Cookie should have a full lifespan (barring
other health problems) and a good quality of life.

All the best,
Caity and the fantastic four

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The all-new My Yahoo! - What will yours do?
http://my.yahoo.com