From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-03-14 22:11:59 UTC
Subject: RE: Poss. Insulinoma
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5560342.1110838319424.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
Were there low blood glucose results when the bloodwork was checked?
Were any other blood tests done?
In insulinoma the blood glucose (sugar) levels will be low and the insulin levels will be high. Insulin levels can be measured in a different blood test if desired. Did you know that some meds, including some herbals at times have the side effect of lowering blood sugar so that some like Pau D'Arco are no longer recommended for use in ferrets for such reasons?
The symptoms you are seeing can have other causes, yes, even the opposite: diabetes. You can see why the blood work is not just important but absolutely essential. If other values on a CBC with Chemistry Panel are wrong then other alternatives like lymphoma in the pancreas have to be considered.
BEFORE worrying about some of the malignancies which can be based there but AFTER doing enough testing , if both Prednisone and Prednisolone don't work then you could try an alternative steroids could be tried.
WHAT TESTS HAVE BEEN DONE AND WHAT RESULTS WERE FOUND?
How old is this ferret?
What other signs are you seeing?
History?
Meds, supplements, herbals given?
You have mentioned tiredness and difficulty walking. A range of things from a partial blockage, to infection, to heart disease, to insulinoma, to diabetes, and on can cause symptoms that general. What tests were done and what were the test results?
Do you know for sure that you have tried Prednisolone as well as Prednisone? How many mgs were tried?
Again: what were the test results like?