From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2006-06-04 15:52:29 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] RE: Diarrhea, weakness
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Check the blood sugar sugar again. The first one was definitely an insulinoma type of number.
Insulinoma can cause diarrhea.
With insulinoma you do NOT want to decrease the Pred, BUT if Prednisone is being used then try Prednisolone instead because if the liver is at all compromised (and at that age it might be) skipping the liver processing step that is needed in the body to turn Prednisone into Prednisolone before the body can utilize it can at times permit the use of a lower dose.
The chances are that since your vet is not a ferret vet that there is fear of all sorts of side effects from Pred because so many many other mammals have them. Actually, ferrets are very UN-inclined usually to the sorts of side effects that are probably worrying your vet.
Do give it with food, though, because some do have ulcers aggravated by it, and it can worsen the chances of producing an ulcer in response to physical stress if it is not give with food. As far as i know, it always makes sense to give Pred with food for a ferret.
Another thing that you can do to decrease this risk is to give the standard liquid Carafate prep that every pharmacy carries, but give it at least a half hour, preferably longer, separated from meds, and also do not give Carafate with food but instead have time between. When we personally use it that way to reduce risk we just give 0.15 ml of the liquid Carafate (which I hope has just one concentration because the mg/ml figure is obscured on the label of our bottle here so i can not provide the mg figure or the concentration one). Carafate works like a bandage by settling onto the stomach wall and coating it.
Other growths in the pancreas can also produce those symptoms but those often present more acutely and worsen faster than you have seen, they are also far more rare.
You will want to also read up on other meds like diazoxide (the generic which is cheaper and more readily available than Proglycem but as effective for those individuals who respond to it) and more. With a vet who is unused to ferrets pancreatic surgery may not be a good idea if avoidable.
Dosing changes over time with insulinoma, and I suggest reading the archives and in the other recommended sites in my signature for further information. Many members are likely to have good information to offer you on this topic!
One last note: Ferrets tolerate higher doses of Pred than many vets realize. To a large extent it is "what the individual will tolerate" for a ferret when a disease like insulinoma becomes advanced. Approaches will change when the insulinoma is advanced enough so read up on that to know about it beforehand, and also look up convulsion approaches.
-- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my private posts)
Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love them:
Ferret Health List
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
AFIP Ferret Pathology
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
Miamiferrets
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
International Ferret Congress Critical References
http://www.ferretcongress.org
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