From:
"Sue Liszewski"
Date: 2005-05-29 06:12:26 UTC
Subject: RE: [ferrethealth] URGENT: Need Help for VERY sick ferret post insulinoma
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
surgery
Message-ID: <BAY104-F3297D4E675DAF2E8595B09DC020@phx.gbl>
Anytime you work with the pancreas you can aggravate it and cause it to
secrete enzymes and such which can cause pain and severe irritation. It can
be said to start digesting outlying internal material even some organs if it
is severe enough. Adherence to the liver could also be a problem in removal
depending on how the liver was functioning pre op. Was there pre op
bloodwork? In end stage liver disease the liver can cause hypoglycemia so
it could be contributory. The other thing to keep in mind is that sepsis
(severe overwhelming infection in the body or abdomen) can cause low blood
sugar since bacteria digest all the glucose. Being on prednisolone,
although very needed in this case, makes it easier for these things to occur
without noticing it as easily since it can be masked. All of these things
can be contributing to your kids problem. Was there any damage to the
intestines or stomach from adhesions or surgery that could have caused a
leak of intestinal contents into the abdomen? I have seen this lead to
incontrollable hypoglycemia. Note the agitation and panting were probably
pain related but at least it lead you to seek help, if you just medicated
for pain you would probably have lost him by now.
I would keep him on IV fluids, dextrose, and combinations of antibiotics.
Anything that can be used IV would be great. I know cultureing would be
better but you may not have time to get results. If you can find a site to
culture and he is not on antibiotics now, take samples and start
antibiotics. Aggressive supportive care is all you can really do right now
and see if you can get him to respond. If it is infection you need to get
it under control before your glucose levels will even out. This may or may
not be possible but worth a try.
Best of luck to you and Fred and hope this helps give some insight.
Dr. Sue
>From: meltodandcats@juno.com
>Reply-To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
>Subject: [ferrethealth] URGENT: Need Help for VERY sick ferret post
>insulinoma surgery
>Date: Sun, 29 May 2005 04:04:17 +0100 (BST)
>
>Hello, I posted the other day regarding my ferret, Fred, being "agitated"
>and making continuos laps around the kitchen - like maybe he was going stir
>crazy from the pain med - Torb - (is what I thought was the cause for his
>pacing). He took a drastic turn for the worst and is now in the hospital
>fighting for his life. I apologize if this post is longer than it should
>be, I am trying to include all pertinent info.
>
>First, please know that as I write this Fred IS hospitalized. The vets
>there are stumped as to what may be wrong, so I am turning to you all for
>any help.
>
>This gets a little complicated because I took him to a vet whom I highly
>trust which is 4 hours one direction away from me. As luck would have it,
>that vet is on vacation for the next week!! The local vet I usually see
>for my ferrets who is not a ferret expert but is very ferret knowledgeable
>and very willing to learn about ferrets is ALSO on vacation this week.
>Right now Fred is with the vets I take my cats to, and to give them proper
>credit, they also see ferrets, but are not ferret experts.
>
>On Tuesday the vet who performed the surgery said he had removed half of
>his pancreas that is was FULL of tumors!! He said he was worried about him
>during the surgery as his breathing was very shallow!! FYI: Fred had
>adrenal and insulinoma surgery a year ago today by the local vet, but has
>been on Pred ever since. His glucose level never maintained where it
>should be. He recently started getting worse and I decided after adding
>Diazoxide with no success to opt for a 2nd surgery. He did not adapt well
>to the 1st surgery - he got very depressed and his glucose levels kept
>dropping and he was weak for some time after the surgery. Because of that
>I was afraid to have another surgery done on him. But after consideration,
>I decided this would be his only chance for some quality life as he was
>deteriorating in recent months.
>
>We picked him up Wed PM and he slept most of the night (surgery was on
>Tuesday morning). Thursday night is when he was pacing like mad. Friday
>he took his meds and I gave him his turkey baby food (which I have given
>him turkey and chicken baby food daily as a supplement to his regular
>kibble). When I got done with my shower, I looked in and Fred was laying
>with his head in the food bowel as is if he passed out. He was VERY WEAK!
>He has been very weak since I brought him home. The vet said his glucose
>was still low (I think it was 80) the day after his surgery. So when I got
>him out from his food bowl, I tried to give him some Nutrical (which he
>loves). He did not take any. The vet sent pancake syrup home with me and
>I gave him some of that via a syringe. Nothing! Still unresponsive. I
>thought maybe if I put a raisin in front of him he would perk up. No go!
>I rushed him to the vet (where he is at now) and he was pretty much
>nonresponsive the whole time. When we got there, his heart started beating
>faster and he was kind of panting. They gave him dextrose via a syringe (I
>think that is what they gave him) and it perked him up some if you want to
>call it that.
>
>They have him on a continual dextrose dip and are monitoring his glucose
>which keeps fluctuating alot. One time it was 120 and the next it was 80
>and so on. I went to visit him this morning and he looked like he was not
>there. He had a very glazed over look. He has NO strength whatsoever!!
>He started to pee on me and I put him in the litter and he collapsed and
>laid there motionless not even trying to move. The vet today said it is
>almost like he is blind. That he put his head down in the water bowl and
>then when he got wet, he realized it was his water and moved his head.
>
>I asked if she thought he has a chance of surviving and she said yes. She
>explained it could be that his body is reacting to the removal of a large
>part of the pancreas and that his insides are "angry". Oh, yeah, the vet
>who performed the surgery said that his liver was plastered to his pancreas
>and he had to maneuver it around to examine the pancreas from the other
>side.
>
>Has anyone ever experienced this with your fuzzy? Are there any vets
>reading this who have any ideas or suggestions.
>
>I might have missed some info as my mind is in a complete fog right now and
>I can't stop crying. Fred is my baby and I can't bear the thought of him
>leaving me. I adopted him from a shelter in June 2002 and they estimated
>his age to be 3 or 4 , so he is about 6 or 7.
>
>Could he have had a stroke? Is it possible the remaining pancreas is
>really that bad it won't compensate?
>
>And can Diazoxide still be given to him after the insulinoma surgery?? I
>asked the vet where he is at now and they aren't sure about the Diazoxide.
>
>Any help or suggestions are much welcomed. If you want to email me
>directly, my email is meltodandcats@juno.com.
>
>Regards
>Melanie
>
>
>
>
>
>
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