From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2005-11-30 17:39:25 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] RE: elevated insulin level = insulinoma? long post....sorry
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
We have had a borderline ferret who was diagnosed by insulin level and that ferret did need to be on Prednisolone and did have insulinoma.
Yes, insulin levels can also be increased by either lymphoma or carcinoma. (We have had one of each in our family through the years, with that result.)
Five points, though:
1. If it is either then the Pred is not only still needed but it is needed at higher levels.
2. Each of those began as a sudden, massive, life threatening crash, with no warning of a problem beforehand. Both needed gentle cheek puff artificial respiration since both stopped breathing (If memory serves it was once for Fritter with her lymphoma and three times for Ashling with her carcinoma) and Ashling also had a massive body temperature drop so we had to re-warm her to keep her alive, too.
3. In both of these ferrets the truth was told by doing a CBC with Chemistry Panel. Too many values were way too far off.
4. From our experience carcinoma in the pancreas is the worst of those three; we were able to give Ashling a handful of months. Lymphoma is the second; and Fritter even back then (close to 20 years ago) got 9 good months with treatment. Insulinoma is the most controllable for the longest since there are good options, but it pays to tackle any of those illnesses to provide quality of life as long as possible and that quality can at times be surprisingly high with treatment. If it must be one of these three, then hope for insulinoma; we did.
5. It is possible that some other problem with the pancreas may be a fault, but I doubt it highly likely.
Consider doing an aspirate of the node. Those are NOT perfect in either direction, but can be helpful.
====================================================================<<<
Whatever you Wanadoo, click below:
http://ads.smartgroups.com/adclick/CID=000000b7c79a99a500000000
====================================================================>>>
--
If you want to share pictures, use the calendar, or start a vote
visit http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
To leave the group, email: ferrethealth-unsubscribe@smartgroups.com
Report abuse http://www.smartgroups.com/text/abusereport.cfm?gid%3D1423922&mid%3D16088