From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2005-08-04 21:52:39 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] post adrenal and not doing good
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <9363478.1123224804888.JavaMail.nobody@magnesium.smartgroups.com>
Hi,
I disagree with your vet on so many levels I'm almost
at a loss as to where to begin. While I am not a vet
what you are being told contradicts both my personal
experience and what I've learned from some very good
ferret vets. I really, really, really recommend
getting a second opionion.
--- tdsmc@yahoo.com wrote:
> I have a two year old ferret that had adrenal
> surgery in March. She had to take pred for a while
> after and managed to gain two ounces but she doesn't
> gain any more and is losing more fur.
Why is she on prednisone? Unless both glands are
removed or one is atrophied and she showed symptoms of
Addison's Disease pred would not normally be given to
treat adrenal disease.
> She itches excessively and bites her tail and hind
> quarters until she has red sores.
I would bet dollars to donuts that she has a tumor in
her remaining adrenal gland. My Pertwee had his right
adrenal surgery just five weeks after his left.
> The vet gave her a shot of
> Lupron a week ago as a test to see if her other
> adrenal has gone bad.
That is no test. Our original vet in North Carolina
only had good results with Lupron in about 60% of
cases. Four out of ten ferrets didn't respond at all.
You could do a Tennessee Panel to test for adrenal
again but lupron is not a good way to check.
Considering that she has clear adrenal symptoms our
vet would just do surgery again.
> The left one was removed and
> at that time he saw "pits" on her pancrease.
Did your vet check her blood glucose? What was it?
Does she have insulinoma? If so then prednisone makes
sense. Are you rechecking her blood glucose
regularly? If not how do you know she is getting the
right dosage of prednisone?
> He
> thinks if the Lupron doesn't help she may have some
> sort of carcinoma and said there is nothing that
> could be done for her.
WHAT!?!?! This is wrong on so many levels. Many
carcinomas are treatable with surgery. Get her to
another vet, please. Besides, what is he basing this
on?
> If it is the other adrenal he
> said the pred would kill her in a couple of years.
WRONG!!! I have had ferrets on prednisone (actually
prednisolone) for four years or more with no ill
effects at all. Pertwee was on dexamethasone, which
is stronger than prednisone for four years as well.
> Has anyone else gone through this and if so were you
> able to at least help with the itching?
Yes, I've been through bilateral adrenal disease
twice. A second surgery can be curative but you need
to have it done by a very experienced vet who knows
how to safely and completely excise the right gland
which is attached to the vena cava, the main vein to
the heart. They also need to know how to deal with
surgically induced Addison's Disease should that
become an issue.
I sure wouldn't give up on a two year old with a
recurrence of adrenal and possible insulinoma. She
could live a full, long life with proper treatment.
All the best,
Caity and the fantastic five