From:
"manajane21"
Date: 2008-04-26 21:50:41 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] sorry, long post Re: Adrenal ferret/2 vets - was "Update on my ferret Herb"
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I am sure someone already told you this (I have missed some of the
previous posts) but you should really check out
www.miamiferret.org/fhc. There is some GREAT info on there about
adrenal disease and treatment options. It also recommends info to give
to vets.
Remember, Arimidex and Casodex should not be used simultaneously.
Deslorelin is not available in the US. I believe there are trials
going though to get is ok'ed. Deslorelin works the same way as Lupron
does.
Beware of many of the over-the-counter melatonins. I know GNC used to
sell a great liquid version that many people here on the FHL were
using (before the implants became so popular) but that doesn't exist
anymore. Unfortunately, many over-the-counter supplements contain
other meds in them and/or lots of sugar that your ferret doesn't need
(nor do we know if they are harmful). Also, and this is a problem with
all vitamins and supplements, there is no guarantee that the what you
are buying is what you are gettting (ie: may not be as much melatonin
in there as stated on the bottle).
As for the melatonin implants, they are designed with ferrets in mind
(orginally used in Minks to make their coats better), so the chances
of you not getting what you pay for (or something else) are very slim.
As for sedating for the implant....that is NOT true. I emphasize the
not because I feel that a lot of vets just don't know how to handle
ferrets properly. A good technician that is used to ferrets will
almost never have to sedate for a blood draw. Yet, more vets that not
say sedation is needed. I have seen many ferrets receive melatonin
implants without any sedation. My adrenal male (god rest his soul) was
awesome for his. I would just put some ferretone on the counter top,
grab the skin between his shoulders, and pop the implant in. He hardly
ever noticed! And it is a big needle! He was my angel...
It is interesting to me that the vet "cannot" get the other drugs you
inquired about. I work at an animal hospital, and we order different
drugs all the time. There are nine vets where I work (its a big place).
A note about Lupron therapy that I don't think enough people realize.
Lupron is an agonist -- a drug that works in two distinct phases.
Phase one stimulates the pituitary gland, causing more hormones to be
produced. In phase two, the receptors have been flooded with so much
"info" that they shut down, causing a decline in hormone levels. This
is when the drug becomes therapeutic. Taking all of this into
consideration, one must be vigilant with Lupron therapy and give the
injections on a timely basis (whether it is the one-month,
three-month, or four-month). Otherwise, the lack of drug in the system
will allow the receptors to "turn back on" and you are back to where
you started, decreasing the therapeutic window of the drug. So,
Lupron should not be given "as needed" (based on ferrets symptoms). It
probably won't help much in the long term.
Being a ferret owner for 7 years, and working at an animal hospital
for 10, there is one thing I know...vets can't know everything. Think
about it, a vet goes to school for four years, and depending on the
program, learn about both small and large animals. Exotics (which is
what a ferret is considered) are usually a month specialty topic. Vets
must choose to actively learn more about exotics by specializing in
them. Even then though, they learn about ALL exotics, not just
ferrets. I feel like unless you have lived with a ferret, you never
truly know enough about them. That being said, the best thing you can
do is come in to the vet with all kinds of info. A great vet will not
have a superiority complex, but instead will sit down with you to
discuss you ferrets issues, tell you what they think, but also listen
to what you think. Even is you are not a trained vet. We live in an
electronic age, where answers (right and wrong ones) are at our finger
tips. We have the time to research how to help our pets. Most vets
just don't. Don't get me a wrong, I am sure a vet will research how to
fix a pet that is deathly ill and they don't know what to do for them,
but if the pet is stable, THOROUGH research (more than looking in a
couple books they have on hand) is not practical. Sad but true. For
all vets on FHL, please do not take this personally. You are a special
group deserving of much praise for being involved on this fourm! This
is just my opinion after working at a clinic for many years, and
taking my ferrets to many different vets (other than the ones I work
with).
------------------------------------
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/