From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2005-03-26 23:21:03 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] RE: Insulinoma
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <14927396.1111879803552.JavaMail.nobody@vanadium.smartgroups.com>
Hi, Roary and everyone else,
--- US7 <digitalcoyote@comcast.net> wrote:
> Now, I'm not sure entirely about this, but don't the
> melatonin implants only relieve the symptoms of
> adrenal? Is that true with Lupron as well?
That is my understanding and the way every vet I've
talked to on the subject explained it to me.
> I would
> think that since the adrenals have some kind of
> tumor (which could either be malignant or benign)
> that they should be removed fairly soon, if nothing
> else to avoid possible metastasis.
Again, yes. Our vet in NC did surgery as soon as they
symptoms became pronounced. The only reason he waited
that long was to be sure that a tumor would be
visible.
> but waiting for months
> seems like it might be too long.
Nyssa had symptoms that came and went. We waited a
solid year and she then had her left adrenal gland
out. There were no problems and the has been no
recurrence in almost four years since.
OTOH, we waited with Ryo-Ohki before her second
adrenal surgery as our vet was always very cautious
about making a ferret bilateral. She had her second
surgery and all seemed well. Some months later a
third surgery (exploratory) revealed that the adrenal
carcinoma had metastasized and she had tumors
everywhere. We opted not to let her wake up from that
surgery.
Keith and I have always wondered if we waited too long
for Ryo-Ohki's second adrenal surgery. I don't often
second guess that vet. He's been a miracle worker for
some of our ferrets. Still... Keith and I have had
nagging doubts ever since that he was overcautious
with Ryo and that surgery sooner might have prevented
the metastasis. She might still be with us today if
that was the case.
I don't know the right answer. I tend to lean towards
being pretty aggressive about adrenal surgery unless
the ferret in question is otherwise compromised and
not a good surgical candidate. We did treat Podo with
lupron rather than opt for a second adrenal surgery.
He was nine and a half years old at the time and also
had insulinoma. We didn't think he'd make it through
another surgery. Lupron worked well for him.
When it comes to right adrenal surgery the skill of
the vet and his or her confidence about the ability to
fully remove a right adrenal gland would also play
heavily into my decision making process. If this is a
first adrenal surgery you generally won't know if
you're dealing with a right or left.
I'm sorry. There are no easy answers.
All the best,
Caity and the furiously plaful five