From:
John Rosloot
Date: 2008-12-22 20:33:18 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Insulinoma question
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hello everyone.
I had some questions about insulinoma treatment. Years ago my ferret
Sammy was basically cured of insulinoma by a partial pancreatectomy.
We'd been managing his condition for a year with diet and medication,
but after the surgery his blood glucose went completely back to normal
and stayed that way for the remaining 1.5 years of his life, with no
special diet or medication. I had a very high opinion of that surgery
based on that.
Last year my ferret Tommy had a partial pancreatectomy, and this year
(April) Pandora had one as well, but neither of them seemed to benefit
much. It maybe pushed back the disease 3 or 4 months tops. I'd read of
people on the Ferret Mailing List having great success with the surgery,
even repeated surgeries when needed. I know not all ferrets will have the
same benefit, but for both of mine to do poorly seemed unusual. My vet
said he didn't see nodules on either of their pancreas this time around
but just removed part of the pancreas where it seemed 'thicker'. I
wondered if there's some trick to the surgery, some technique that my
vet might benefit from knowing.
Tommy passed away in September from congestive heart failure. For now
we're controlling Pandora's insulinoma with prednisolone. We're not having
as much success as I'd like and I think the dosage is getting rather high.
She was on 2mg twice a day and her BG was around 55; she weighs 1lb 10oz.
We just switched to half of a 5mg tablet twice a day as she didn't care
for the liquid pred we were giving her. I crush the 1/2 tablet and mix
it with ferretone and she laps it right up.
I'm wondering if the dosage is too high and if so what we should do.
I was able to control Tommy's insulinoma mostly with diet by giving him
Medi-cal canned recovery formula, but Pandora absolutely refuses this or
any similar food. Even if I mix a tiny amount with ferretone she still
won't touch it. I got her to take a few licks of what was almost completely
ferretone but that was it. And she loves ferretone.
I wondered if another surgery might be beneficial. Since the first did
so little for her I'm not hopeful of that unless there's something different
my vet can do in the surgery.
I've also considered a chemo protocol I've read of using doxorubicin.
I'm hesitant because of potential cardiotoxicity. I'd prefer liposomal
doxorubicin because of reduced cardiotoxicity but my vet couldn't find
a supplier. If anyone knows of a supplier of liposomal doxorubicin for
vets in Canada please let me know. Also any suggestions regarding surgery
or other treatments would be welcome.
Thanks.
--
John Rosloot, Caregiver to Pandora
With loving memories of my Budly-Boy
my precious little Cassie-angel,
my Silly Snuggly Sammy
my Big Buster Boy,
and my beautiful Tommy
http://www2.cs.uregina.ca/~rosloot/ferrets
rosloot@cs.uregina.ca
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