From:
ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2008-12-17 01:46:56 UTC
Subject: Insulinoma questions Re: [ferrethealth] Digest Number 1371
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
In a message dated 12/16/08 4:03:39 AM Eastern Standard Time,
ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com writes:
[There is a not an accredited specialization in mammal exotics
YET but will be starting pretty soon. Meanwhile, FHL members
have recommended these people:
_http://ferrethealthhttp://fer_ (http://ferrethealth.org/vets/)
--Mod]
**Just as an aside on this, there may be a lot of very good ferret vets who
don't pursue this, due to lack of interest in other small mammal species. I'm
not sure if I will be pursuing it yet, actually.**
Also, if anybody could help me with these questions I would really
appreciate!
1)Is the glucose level+symptoms above enough for the dx?
**I consider a blood glucose less than 70 to be confirmatory of the diagnosis
of insulinoma, when correlated with clinical signs, of course, and a glucose
level between 70 and 90 to be suspicious. You have a ferret exhibiting
clinical signs consistent with insulinoma, and blood sugars near 70 - yeah, I'd
consider this to be an insulinomic ferret.**
2)If I start the prednisone she recommended, would it be OK to do the
surgery after 2 weeks-1 month?
**Sure would, and in a lot of my cases, this is what I recommend - it allows
the ferret to be stabilized before surgery.**
3)What are you experience between surgery + medication if necessary
compared to medication only? (I am thinking surgery with partial
pancreatectomy is the best way to go).
**YES! I see a much longer survival time and medication free interval with
early surgery. My first recommendation with an insulinomic ferret that can
withstand surgery is to go for it, before we end up tipping over into diabetes.
That said, if there is a concern re anesthesia (heart disease, etc), surgery
is obviously much more of a concern.**
4)Is the surgery too traumatic/complicat4)Is the surgery too
**Depends on the skill of the surgeon and the condition of the ferret. Most
of my insulinoma surgery patients are doing very well within a day or two.
Some of them do flip into post-op diabetes (especially those that have been
insulinomic for a while and need to be treated for that (it is almost always
transient). Some are more painful/depressed for a week or so. Pain control and
close monitoring of the glucose level is essential.**
I think I am more depressed with all this because I am a vet (can't -
and don't want- to practice in the US, I am a researcher and have NO
experience with ferrets). Also there is a vet school in my city, BUT
there is no exotic animal vets there (not for mammals).
If I decide that surgery is the best option, does my opinion matter at
all? Should I push for it? Am I thinking only on myself trying to keep
Nina with me as long as I can?
**If she is enjoying life, then the longer she has to enjoy the better. And
yes, your opinion does matter - find a vet you are comfortable working with.**
Dr. Ruth
*****************************************
Save lives - spay or neuter your pet.
**************Make your life easier with all your friends, email, and
favorite sites in one place. Try it now.
(http://www.aol.com/?optin=new-dp&icid=aolcom40vanity&ncid=emlcntaolcom00000010)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
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/