Message Number: FHL6334 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2008-10-11 16:49:01 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Adrenal Surgery
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Joanne D'Amico-Ritter" <jdamico@...> wrote:
>
> However, I have lost two within 2 years of
>bilateral surgery when a crisis was precipitated
>by death of a bonded mate - and all the vet care
>and meds and love and care did not help.


Two years in ferret years is like 20 for human lifespans.

That said, ferrets who have no working adrenal glands or
have one or both so atrophied that they do not produce
sufficient cortical steroids needed for survival need
HIGHER LEVELS of Fludrocort and Prednisolone WHEN THEY
ARE UNDER ANY FORM OF STRESS. This is true for emotional
stress as well as for physical stress, or even when the activity
level goes up or weight is increased substantially.

During such times it may also be essential to provide some
added table salt in the diet.

(Atrophy can be caused by some things but is not seen as
often now that Lysodren is no longer being used for ferrets
with adrenal disease due to the various problems with it as
a treatment. Do not confuse Lysodren which was used over
a decade ago with Lupron.)

If a ferret who is prone to Addisons develops an intestinal woe
then use Percorten (an injectable) and daily Prednisolone rather
that using daily Fludrocort and daily Prednisolone because the
Fludrocort/Florinef can pass through the body too rapidly.

What do these meds do? Okay, the adrenals produce a number
of products. There are, of course, the hormones that are involved
in adrenal disease of ferrets, but other products include cortical
steroids. Some of the functions these perform are essential for
life. The Percorten or Fludrocort/Florinef helps with the amount
and balance of two essential electrolytes. Without enough of these
and a safe proportion cells can not function and death results.
The Prednisolone helps with fluid balance, also essential for
survival. So, that is why such meds are needed if a ferret does
not have enough functioning steroid producing sections of the
adrenal cortex.



>
> Also note that Dr. Ruth mentioned "if all the adrenal tissue is removed". However,
sometimes there is the issue of small bits of ectopic (not in the gland) adrenal tissue
>remaining


Yes, that is correct.

Also, on a rare basis you can have one with some ectopic adrenal
tissue that is still producing too many hormones but not producing
cortical steroids so that ferret can need to be treated to avoid a fatal
Addisons problem but also need treatment (Lupron, melatonin, and
any other meds needed for Adrenal complications) for adrenal disease.
We had one in that situation ourselves. The diseased portion of her
right adrenal had grown into her Vena Cava and she did not have
enough collateral circulation for surgery on that vein.

>
> Right now I have 2 boys, Ramses & Harley. Ramses was only 12 mos. old when I
adopted him. He exhibited signs of severe aggression with a thick lush coat. His hormone
levels were very high, so I opted for surgery - both adrenals were very enlarged, and were
>removed. He is now on flurinef, prednisolone, lupron and melatonin.


Yes, you, too know what that is like!


>His aggression has gone, but so has his big bulky musculature and lush coat. Harley,
who is almost five, started to blow his coat. He was checked, is also adrenal, but because
his case was "milder", and he started rather late, I opted just to put him on melatonin and
lupron. At one time I always opted for surgery, but because of the mixed results, I
>decided to be more conservative.

Like you we use both. Having options is a GOOD thing!

We usually opt for surgery but have had ones for whom the
medical approach was better, or both were used in combo.
So, we go on a case by case basis depending on our vets' take
and our take.


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