From:
"mackenziew82"
Date: 2008-10-21 10:33:13 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Elderly Ferret
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
My little Bella is nearly 6 years old and she has started to have
some health problems, which I thought someone might have some
insight. I have done a bit of research on the internet and it does
sound like insulinoma. To start with, she wobbles and falls over.
If I don't give her some food (usually a bit of lactose-free pet milk
if she won't eat biscuits), she starts to "blanks out" and can be
quite lifeless, then begins drooling. By giving her food it helps,
and after about 20mins, she is up and about (although slower than
usual) and doing her favourite things like moving her toys around
etc. I took her to the vet (we go to a vet that specialises in
ferrets in my city) and he did her blood sugar level when she was
drooling and lifeless the first time, which came back normal. That
was in mid-august and it has come and gone since. I seem to be able
to control it okay with the feeding mechanism, which makes me sure it
is low blood sugar. Lately it appears to be happening more often. I
suppose I am asking for opinions. Bella is my first ferret so I
haven't had to deal with any elderly ferret problems before. I love
her very much, but I wouldn't want to put her through any surgery if
it was only for my benefit not hers, with the risk she could die on
the table rather than in her home. I will try to take her to the vet
again on friday to see if we can get a better blood sample (last time
he couldn't get enough out) and possibly an ultrasound which he
thinks may help diagnose her. I was just wondering if people think
it could be insulinoma. I should also say that our vet is THE ferret
doctor in town and he has only treated 2 insulinoma cases in over 20
years, as it is so rare to see it here in Tasmania, Australia.
Thanks for your help, Mackenzie
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