From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2005-05-11 14:06:48 UTC
Subject: Tufts protocal -- experiences?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <17153368.1115824700736.JavaMail.nobody@strontium.smartgroups.com>
Hi, everyone,
To summarize for those who have not seen my past
posts: Nyssa is a 7 year old spayed female ferret who
with lymphoma for the past six months. She is
gradually going downhill though we are still able to
mostly keep her comfortable with steroids:
prednisolone .27ml (1mg/ml) twice a day (the most she
can tolerate without stomach problems) and depo medrol
(injection). We also give her .05ml torbugesic for
pain when she needs it. Her activity level is now
quite low.
A vet on list has sent on her contact info and offered
to consult with Nyssa's current vet, which I
appreciate. She is recommending that we consider the
Tufts University protocol for Nyssa and tells me
there are no side effects in the ferrets she's
treated. Chemo in people is miserable and I am
reticent to put her on it, especially as effectiveness
after six months of steroids is doubtful.
I'd like to hear how people who've had ferrets on the
Tufts protocol have fared. While I have no doubt that
the vet in question is accurately reporting what she's
seen a bigger sample is always good. Are there really
no side effects? Did it help your ferret? Anyone use
this protocol after an extended period on cortisols?
Did it work then?
Nyssa still eats like a small horse but she's really
thin as in barely more than skin and bones. I really
wonder if we're too late to try something like this.
My goal is to give Nyssa the best quality of life.
While I would love to have hope that we can save her
and get her into remission I won't try something that
will make her miserable or make her suffer. It's hard
enough to see her when she's not feeling well now.
Thanks in advance for any input.
All the best,
Caity and the fabulous five