From:
"Laura Sherman"
Date: 2008-04-26 18:26:41 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Re: Adrenal ferret/2 vets - was "Update on my ferret Herb"
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Back from 2nd visit with Vet #1. Disappointing ----> they are "out" of
Lupron! Came all the way over there to come back without an injection. Nice.
She said it's ordered and should have been there but it isn't.
Talked with vet #1 about the Ultrasound. She did look all over on Herb and
found no other abnormalities. The adrenal glands are very small so that is
why, according to her, it can be difficult to really see the adrenals and
therefore why she could not see the left. The right is enlarged.
I discussed with her all the other drugs I've found information on: Casodex,
Arimodex, Deslorelin and Melatonin. She is not familiar with these except
for Melatonin. She cannot obtain these other drugs through her practice
(it's a multi-vet practice) either. She gave me her blessing to go to
another vet if I find one that has one of these alternate drugs and for
cheaper than the Lupron injections they offer. She supported me on adding in
the Melatonin also. She said it is an over the counter herb (I remember
taking it a long time ago for sleep) that I could buy and I would need to
call her and give the mg/tablet or mg/ml so she could formulate a dose
appropriate for Herb - she preferring the liquid form. She did consider
trying to obtain an implant for Melatonin for me, but cautioned me that
some anesthesia would be involved in placement of that.
I talked to her about what Vet #2 suggested and she backs all of your
opinions here by saying she's never heard of using steroid to treat adrenal
- even at low doses, and she doesn't recommend it and doesn't agree with Vet
#2's course of therapy using that. She also consulted with another ferret
experienced colleague about this and they both agreed, no on the steroids.
Some more general conversation about adrenal: it's mostly a cosmetic disease
when other things are not complicating it and many people, for that reason,
choose not to treat there ferrets at this stage. Reiterated
the possibility of prostate issues happening in males but in her experience
she's never (she even knocked on the counter ::wood::) seen that
complication arise. We talked about the possibility of insulinoma or some
other diseases that can come up and complicate things - she assured me that
is why they do the check ups. We talked about doing blood work up and how
that will be able to tell her if everything else is working properly.
Regarding Herbs pancreas - looked normal on US but a blood panel will
more accurately tell if it is causing any problems because a tumor there may
not show in early stages (I guess - she said the tumor can be very small).
So, if money is tight for us and Herb isn't exhibiting any symptoms of
insulinoma or other disease processes she was comfortable to wait on the
blood test for now. Her experience has also been that most ferrets live a
normal life with adrenal disease.
She wrote down all the drugs I had listed. I asked her about the 3 and 4
month depot of Lupron, she didn't know about it but assumes they use the 1
month depot there. I told her it would be easier on everyone involved if we
could do the 3 or 4 month so we don't have to keep coming back as often.
So, based on what I've read Lupron is still the number 1 recommended therapy
so I'm OK going with that for now. The other drugs I listed,
besides Deslorelin, were recommend secondary to Lupron - if it didn't evoke
a response, so it should be OK to go with Lupron either way. We have to wait
3 months to see if Herb responds to Lupron at that time either he does and
we can continue or we can consider upping his dose or changing medication.
Question:
Melatonin - this is something I purchase from the drug store and formulate
it with the help of my vet, correct? I just want to make sure I get it right
and there isn't some other medical grade 'drug' melatonin out there that
everyone is talking about. And are there any opinions on liquid vs. tablet
forms?
Thank you for your help and patience with me.
Laura
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