From:
rezgrrl@netzero.com
Date: 2006-04-01 01:58:38 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: treating thyroid problems
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
No tests--it was his understanding that there are no base levels for ferret thyroid,
and therefore nothing to test for. He's going by symptoms: Several months ago,
Buddy started eating like there was no tomorrow, and of course he's gotten very fat,
including quite a bit of intra-abdominal fat. I've been convinced that the appetite
(and resultant fat) were symptoms of something else, especially because they came
on very suddenly. Not many alert, active, free-run ferrets are "just fat," and it's
especially not like Buddy. Also, he occasionally dribbles urine when he walks,
though there are no signs of crystals. From the state of his hammocks, I'd say it
happens in his sleep, too. This comes and goes, and has been better lately. And
while he was getting his checkup, we found a couple of bald spots--just spots, not
generalized balding--with flakey skin. Small flakes, if it makes a difference. He
hasn't been scrathing, though. The vet said it would be unusual, but that all of these
symptoms put together looked like low thyroid function. I said that I was interested
in treating this, and was sent to find out more.
No aggression, no itching, no generalized balding, no trouble peeing that I've
noticed. The only other symptoms are that he occasionally seems to have labored,
even painful breathing on the exhale, and that the last month he's been sleeping a
bit more than usual. But he's 8, and he still explores a couple of times a day, plays
with the youngsters at least once a day, and maybe more while I'm at work. There is
a slight balding on the tops of the back toes, and in the tiny semicircular area right
behind both ears. He is slightly insulinomic since last summer--about 8 months),
but this is being controlled with pred and he has never had a seizure to my
knowledge. There may also be some arthritis--back legs are a bit stiff. Then again,
this could be the insulinoma.
Thanks,
--Clover
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