From:
Danee
Date: 2007-08-18 16:05:06 UTC
Subject: Melatonin implants Re: [ferrethealth] Digest Number 878
To: "Ferret Health List" <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
"ferrethealer@aol.com" wrote on 8/18/2007, 5:47 AM:
> The timeframe that I have
> seen improvement in clinical ferrets using just the melatonin implant
> is usually
> two to three weeks. Melatonin does not work in as many ferrets as Lupron
> does, and the best medical treatment is both used together.
I do agree that melatonin does not work in all cases, and also that
Lupron often works better then melatonin once symptoms have set in.
However, I have found that melatonin works more slowly then Lupron. I
have usually found that 4 to 6 weeks, and sometimes as long as 8 weeks
is needed before you start to see improvement in the symptoms.
I have also found that older ferrets that have been getting either
melatonin or Lupron eventually cease to be helped by the drugs. This
can also be true for ferrets that have undergone surgery and have a
reoccurrence. Currently, I have an 8 year old jill that had both her
adrenals removed when she was 5. About 6 months ago, her symptoms
resurfaced. Neither Lupron or melatonin has helped her.
The implant is housed in a substance that does not dissolve, so it will
always be there - it just won't have any melatonin to disperse.
Lupron can be frozen and stored, but only for a few months. Even
frozen, it loses its potency. When CHarlie Weiss was doing his studied,
he found that 6 months was the maximum amount of time it could be stored
frozen and still be useful. So, vets who do not see many ferrets and
can not use it within the 6 month time frame end up having to buy it
already compounded, which is very expensive.
--
Danee DeVore
International Ferret Congress Health Issues Coordinator
http://www.ferretcongress.org
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