From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2005-02-25 20:08:36 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] addisons questions
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <15136722.1109364008237.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>
Hi, Shona, and everyone else.
>
> I have been reading through the archives, but wanted
> to double check a few things. Are these correct?
>
> * Blood test needed to check electrolytes a few days
> after surgery, then a week, then a month, and so on.
After that it will be every six months or so. I
think we had to adjust Pertwee's meds once in four
years because he had gained weight and needed a bit
more.
>
> * Sodium and potassium levels need to be checked:
Those are the electrolytes.
> * He will probably need to be on pred &
> florinef/percotin assuming the entire gland is
> removed
Yes. In the highly unlikely event that you have a
ferret that does not respond to prednisolone your vet
may substitute dexamethasone. We had to do this for
Pertwee.
>
> Is it best to assume the entire gland has been
> removed and start him on the meds immediately, or
> wait for his test results to see if he needs them?
Your vet will know if he/she has removed the entire
gland or not. If it is entirely gone you need to
start the meds immediately. The standard starting
dosages do work well for a lot of ferrets or are at
least close enough to avoid serious Addisonian
symptoms. If you don't start right away Addisons is
sure to set in.
> Is cryosurgery or conventional surgery the way to go
> with right glands?
That depends on the vet and what they are comfortable
with. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer
to that question. Three of my ferrets had rights out:
Ryo-Ohki at age three, Pertwee at age one and a half,
and Podo at age seven and a half. In all three cases
our vet did conventional surgery and in all three
cases he ligated the vena cava. Podo's left was still
healthy. For Pertwee and Ryo that was a second
surgery.
In both Pertwee's and Ryo's cases standard dosages
didn't work. Pertwee didn't respond to pediapred. I
didn't know much at the time and he ended up in a full
blown Addisonian Crisis and nearly died. Once we
started him on dexamethasone instead things got better
in a hurry. Ryo-Ohki did respond to pred but it took
several adjustments over the period of a month to get
her dosage right. She was miserable most of that
time.
>
> Any other information I should know?
Make sure you know all the symptoms of Addisons and
how they progress so you can recognize them and have
your vet respond in a timely way. Make sure you
understand what an Addisonian Crisis is and make sure
you know where to take your ferret if there is a
problem at, oh, perhaps 2:30 Sunday morning. Pertwee
was saved because we had an excellent ferret vet at
the local Emergency Clinic. Our regular vet also
consulted that night and made himself available 24/7
for emergencies.
The one thing I can tell you for certain is that
having both adrenals out doesn't mean your ferret
can't have a normal, full life for a good long time.
Pertwee lived for more than four years with no adrenal
glands and it was liver cancer (totally unrelated)
that got him in the end.
The usual disclaimer applies: I am not a vet, just a
moderately experienced ferret owner who has been where
you are twice.
Good luck!
All the best,
Caity and the fantastic five