Message Number: SG15383 | New FHL Archives Search
From: sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-09-18 19:32:06 UTC
Subject: RE: Adrenal disease
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1112163.1127071926800.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>

Remember that a number of the "answers" in ferret medicine are still hypoth=
eses instead of firm answers.

That is true for adrenal diease even though more an more pieces have been f=
alling into place.

On case anyone there resists treating adrenal disease here is an interestin=
g long past FHL discussion called "Not Treating Adrenal Disease" on what ad=
renal disease can do. Here is the part written by Dr. Bruce Williams:
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/browse.php?msg=3DSG5054

>I think that Melissa and Sukie have covered the dire
>possibilities very well (and they are very real.)

>However, even under the best conditions, when there
>is no malignancy, there is no bone marrow toxicosis,
>there is no prostatic cystic disease - even the most mild
>prediction is a sad one. Ferrets with adrenal disease
>have a diminished quality of life - they have progressive
>muscle loss, low grade anemia, they tend to redistribute
>weight to the abdomen, further making it difficult to walk,
>they have an increased incidence of gastric ulcers as a
>result of the stress of chronic illness, decreased bone
>density - none life-threatening, but all life-compromising.
>Even medical treatment, which is not my preferred way
>of treating adrenal disease, gives slight releif to
>symptoms. Doing nothing is not kind and not in a ferret's
>best interest.

At times more rare things can occur such as unusual thoracic fat deposits (=
a bad thing).

Also see:
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/adrenal.htm

Lupron and Suprelorin: These have made the vet news quite a bit recently a=
nd I've heard that a major European study is underway with Suprelorin Depot=
, which I guess will maybe be Suprelorin's 4th if nothing new comes out in =
the meantime . They work using a different mechanism than melatonin and un=
like melatonin the DEPOT versions HAVE caused SOME adrenal growths to SHRIN=
K in studies. They have STALLED others. On the other hand, some are not r=
esponsive and those appear to predominantly be malignant ones -- for which =
timely surgery is the only decent approach -- so that possibility still rem=
ains if surgery is not done. These meds somewhat imitate the hormonal sign=
al that turns off the continuous LH production. If surgery is impossible o=
ne of these meds should be used. I do not think that shrinkage has been see=
n with Suprelorin.

Melatonin:
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/melatonin.htm
pretty well says it all. Melatonin is interesting. The bone loss that goe=
s along with adrenal disease in ferrets is more and more likely NOT caused =
by the adrenal disease nor by the continuous LH stimulation that increasing=
evidence supports as being involved in the formation of adrenal growths in=
ferrets. Instead, it may be caused by the overproduction of FSH. BUT the=
overproduction of BOTH LH and FSH by the pituitary (which is itself NOT di=
seased in these cases according to multiple studies, but is merely doing it=
s job in relation to what signals it does and does not get) have a common c=
ause. Guess what it is? UNDERproduction of melatonin by the pineal gland =
due to too much light exposure (not enough total darkness). Melatonin play=
s a LOT of roles in the mammal body. It is one of the best antioxidants so=
helps in the ways that those help, including reducing rates of some malign=
ancies, it is involved in multiple communication pathways, and it has recen=
tly been found to be an important player for the marrow. If your vet gets =
the Journal of Exotic Mammal Medicine and Surgery see if you can read the t=
wo fascinating articles in a recent edition, one by Dr. Jerry Murray and on=
e by Dr. Johnson-Delaney. You might find that you will also want to search=
on their names, Dr. Nico Schoemakker, and others found in the bibliographi=
es in relation to the work with these medical approaches. Melatonin does N=
OT shrink adrenal tumors in any ferret studies to date (and there have been=
a pile of them) despite doing so in rabbits; however, it does STALL some. =
The same problem remains, though: the growths which most need to come out=
in a timely fashion appear to be the least affected, and the only way to k=
now what type of growth is present is to do surgery.

Remember that in Spring increased light exposure pits whole ferrets into se=
ason. Gonads have the ability to later shut off that input, unlike other h=
ormone producing tissues like the adrenals.

Melatonin's effects on adrenal growths in ferrets is much less than that of=
Lupron or Suprelorin.

Melatonin CAN (and SHOULD) be used with Lupron and the effect is even more =
improved over either from vets' comments. I do not know if there exists at=
this time any work combining Suprelorin and melatonin in treatment.

There is a lot in the FHL Archives on this topic, too.

-- Sukie (not a vet)
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