From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2007-02-14 18:38:15 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] trouble urinating: adrenal disease and its possible complications
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Shoot.
I put together a post to help with this ferret and Yahoogroups lost
it. I wish I'd saved it...
Okay, start again using my browser history to find things faster:
Yes, if an injury to a vertebra (or to multiple vertebrae) causes
neural problems it can affect the ability to urinate, so can spinal
cord illness such as lymphoma in the spinal cord. The problems can
go in either direction: inability to hold urine or feces (or both),
or difficulty going.
Prostate swelling can be the FIRST and ONLY adrenal disease symptom.
It is not common but it sure can and does happen. We have been in
that position with a ferret who had a lush coat and no more common
signs of adrenal disease but whose life was placed suddenly in danger
by complete urinary blocking by the prostate. He required emergency
adrenal removal surgery and then was fine.
If his prostate had been having problems longer and had become cystic
he would have required some of the meds or prostate surgeries
discussed in the archives:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
When surgery is not possible here is the COMBO of meds used from a
post only ten days old:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG1118
in which Dr. Jerry Murray writes:
> As far as treating a prostate problem secondary to adrenal gland
> disease,
> I would recommend Propecia instead of Casodex, but with either
> medication
> I would definitely use Lupron depot with it! I would also use
> melatonin too!!!
> Casodex merely blocks the DHT receptor, but Propecia actually
> lowers the
> DHT level! Thus in my opinion Propecia is the better medication to
> use.
> Again I would use Lupron and melatonin with either Casodex or Propecia
> in cases with a prostate problem. I would also recommend an antibiotic
> too (Zeniqiuin, or Baytril or TMPS).
BTW, both Propecia and Proscar are finasteride which can now be sold
generically.
If no local vets see enough ferrets to buy Lupron bulk and make up
their own to reduce cost you can travel further. (If in California
then either of these two groups may be able to help direct you:
California vets:
http://www.ferretnews.org/clinic.html
California vets:
http://www.ferretsanonymous.com/medical.html
or otherwise you might want to post what area you are in and people
here could help direct you.)
Alternatively, there are compounding pharmacies which sell it all
prepared. The Files section of the FHL website contains a list of
compounding pharmacies (and from the links section you can find the
melatonin implants), and here is one known to sell it and their
pricing for various concentrations from a past post of Mike Janke's:
http://www.custompetrx.com/leuprolide.htm
Here are some other good places to learn about adrenal disease:
Propecia:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG922
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG942
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG1178
This list is from October (quoting myself -- apologies -- but the
links go to excellent sources of info:
> Here are some basics. Note that some ferrets have only one symptom.
> Some may have no symptoms until a complication appears. Others will
> have multiple symptoms.
> http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/basics.htm
>
> From a ferret vet:
> http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/adrenal.htm
> and there are more at that site, including some excellent ones by
> Mike Janke with review by ferret vets.
>
> From the FHL Archives (which can be linked to from our home page by
> clicking on the bold text mentioning archives):
> From vets:
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG15827
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG5436
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG2049
> (each also contains important complications info)
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=YG1952
> (notice why it is not Cushings)
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG5054
> (untreated adrenal disease and why it is not fair to fail to treat)
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG10790
> (Old, but may have some info you need. Since then have your vet
> look into the vet journal articles of Dr. Nico Schoemaker, too.)
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG16270
> (another study which will produce an article worth reading if it
> hasn't already)
>
> From others or a combo and worth reading:
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG16126
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG16112
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG15327
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG17126
> (Notice the importance of providing enough complete darkness for
> ferrets, esp. those who have been neutered. Try for around 14 hours
> being available in each 24 hour period. Sleeping boxes and other
> places to escape light help greatly. In just recently released
> studies amber light has the least effect on reducing the melatonin
> the body itself produces, whereas blue is the worst light for that
> disruption with green also bad, so if you need to use a dim bulb
> for some reason try amber for those times but do provide places to
> escape light. Notice that many white lights, plus monitors and tv
> screens are heavy on blue wave length components.)
> and there is a lot more in the archives
>
> Be sure to see also:
> http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/adrenal.htm
> http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/24hr_lupron.htm
> (why to not use the 24 Lupron)
> http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/melatonin.htm
> to start off.
> Some complications info you hopefully won't need:
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG15827
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG5436
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG2049
> prostate:
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG6795
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG5436
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG16791
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG12819
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG10132
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG9678
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG8354
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG7311
> Addisons:
> http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/addisons.htm
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG9938
> (also mentions Vetalog)
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG9931
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG16232
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/browse.php?msg=SG12920
> Related anemia:
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG15827
Sukie (not a vet)
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