From:
"Nanci"
Date: 2007-10-05 02:51:47 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Rapid weight gain, insulinoma + elevated calcium levels in blood work
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
6 year old ferret began treatment with prednisolone in May, along with
diazoxide (boy I can never spell that right). Within the past 6
weeks, critter - who has been doing well until now - has gone from his
normal weight of 850 grams to nearly 1600 grams. He gained 90 grams
in 9 days recently between vet visits!
Always fed high-quality chow such as Totally Ferret, he is not given
many snacks (some foamy fries, Ferretone, etc) and has a very
enriched, active lifestyle. He is one of 7 ferrets who also visit
frequently with 8 more; the two Mom's like to travel and tend each
others critters, so the two crews have been raised together and get
together for even more ferrety fun often.
Blood work showed an elevated calcium level of 17.5 as the only value
out of the ordinary. Critter is eating well but isn't moving much, as
his legs are literally giving out under the new extreme weight. The
vet could not palpate any sort of tumor. X-ray showed no tumor
either, just lots and lots and lots of FAT. Critter is NOT a huge
boy; he's a typical 2.5# north-american, factory produced critter.
His body is grossly disfigured by the extreme weight, so he's clearly
over-the-top obese for his frame.
Any ideas at all? We're all stumped around here. Big guy's vet wants
to wean him off pred in case that's causing the obesity...but I mean
we've seen critters pack on SOME grams after starting pred, but
nothing like this. And he's been on it since May?!?
Critter is currently just this side of miserable and if gains many
more grams he's not going to be able to move. :(
Thanks for any advice!
Nanci
Motor City Ferrets
www.motorcityferrets.org
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
mailto:ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/