From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-04-02 18:15:49 UTC
Subject: RE: Seizure recovery-Need advice ASAP
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <529391.1112465749396.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
As Mike wrote:
> > Cody really needs to see a vet that can check his glucose levels. If that hasn't been done yet, you're really just guessing.
Remember that on a rare basis what is causing the symptoms is not insulinoma but instead is diabetes. In that case giving the Pred is exactly the wrong thing to do. Meanwhile, though, if it is Insulinoma the dose may not be enough.
Are you giving Prednisone or Prednisolone? Pediapred is a Prednisolone. That can also affect the outcome since some don't do as well with Prednisone.
What mg level is being given? ml says nothing because the concentrations vary, so either the mg level is needed, or the ml level of the dose combined with the concentration (mg/ml) is needed to calculate the amount. How large is the ferret? On our average size females we usually have had to use 1 mg or better at first after a major seizure. I can't recall offhand if you menitoned mg level.
Did the vet send out a CBC with Chemistry Panel? That would not only give the blood glucose levels but also would give info which might tell if something other than insulinoma is in the pancreas. Both times in our own family that we have first noticed pancreatic troubles with a large seizure there has been a culprit other than insulinoma: once lympho, and once carcinoma. The other tests done showed us then that something a lot bigger than the onset of insulinoma was up.
You NEED that blood testing and preferably you need it right away (even if you have to pay for an emergency appointment). You need it so that the action taken is not the opposite of what should be done (if there is actually diabetes), and you need it to help decide at what level to start the dosing.