From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2008-09-05 16:03:38 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Hind leg weakness
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
...>a month
> ago the vet ran some blood tests for her because she's 4 and her
> 2 "brothers" were diagnosed adrenal. She's not adrenal but her values
> are close to the limit of being diagnosed as adrenal. So the vet
> recomended to put a melatonin implant on her, which she got, and to
> crush one 100 mcg levothyroxine sodium tablet, dilute it in 5 ml
> water and give her 0.5 ml. every day.
> Also, yesterday morning I burnt a teflon pan (duh)...
Definitely check into that Teflon situation as Tressie said Looking at
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-risks-of-using-teflon-pans.htm
(though I do NOT know how reliable that resource is) the
mentioned symptoms are different.
What are her blood glucose results? I did not notice ataxia
among the symptoms for Teflon Poisoning -- but that
could simply mean they weren't mentioned. Many things
can cause hind end weakness in ferrets from illnesses
through poisonings, but the most common is Insulinoma.
To learn how to tackle insulinoma see:
http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/PDF/insulinoma.pdf
There is only one blood test that will diagnose adrenal disease
for sure in ferrets. It is one that is very costly and which
often takes a good time to get the results back on. That is
the TN Panel.
Also, I have never heard of ferrets with adrenal
disease getting that sodium compound, which is a Thyroid
Medication. Thyroid problems are very rare in ferrets.
http://www.medicinenet.com/levothyroxine_sodium/article.htm
(WHICH IS A HUMAN REFERENCE, I'M AFRAID)
includes
BEGIN QUOTE
Levothyroxine is approved to treat hypothyroidism and to suppress
thyroid hormone release in the management of cancerous thyroid
nodules and growth of goiters. In addition, Synthroid, Levoxyl and
Levothroid also are prescribed with anti-thyroid drugs, for example
methimazole (Tapazole), to manage thyrotoxicosis (high thyroid
hormone levels due to over-activity of the thyroid gland).
Thyrotoxicosis may result in the growth of goiters and/or
hypothyroidism.
END QUOTE
and
BEGIN QUOTE
SIDE EFFECTS: Levothyroxine therapy is usually well-tolerated. If
symptoms occur, often they are due to toxic levels of thyroid
hormone and the symptoms are those of hyperthyroidism.
Symptoms may include all or some of the following: chest pain,
increased heart rate or pulse rate, excessive sweating, heat
intolerance, nervousness, headache, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting,
weight loss, or fever. Women may experience irregular menstrual
cycles.
END QUOTE
I could not find any references on the use of that medication
in ferrets, whether safe, side effects for ferrets, etc.
So, either your vet is doing something so new that I've never heard of
it (possible) or isn't very familiar with ferrets (also possible).
Unfortunately, there often is confusion about adrenal disease in
ferrets because it is NOT the same as the Cushings Disease seen
in other species.
Here are data on the TN Panel, and on Adrenal Disease in ferrets:
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/adrenal.htm
http://www.vet.utk.edu/diagnostic/endocrinology/index.php
http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/aae.html
There are some studies on mustlids and the effects of certain
accidental intakes of estrogens -- such as phytoestrogens and
things that are estrogenic which came up in a different post today
like:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16466776
and that mentions thyroid changes in mink fed plant estrogens.
and there is old work like:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7989239
So, I think that it would pay to see if that one med makes any
sense (why or why not) in case that med is causing the symptoms
you are seeing, check into the possibility of poisoning from the
burned Teflon, and to test for insulinoma. Find out, too, what the
Animal Poison Control numbers are in your nation and have them
handy to call if an emergency arises again.
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