Message Number: FHL7437 | New FHL Archives Search
From: "kazpat1"
Date: 2009-01-08 05:48:28 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Help please - Ferret with insulinoma now with Blood Glucose = 430
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com

It could be a few things. Ferrets do get diabetes and many cases are
related to insulinoma and on prednisone. Plus in this case, partial
pancreas was removed, so there may be some effect from that. Theory
is that the pancreas islet cells that produce the insulin burn out.=20
Or, perhaps just the steroid itself induces the diabetes. Stopping
the steroid and waiting for glucose to go back to normal- then if
continues to drop low again, restarting the steroid at a lower dose
and adjusting to the ferret's need, Some ferrets with insulinoma do
fluctuate and it gets hard to control due to spikes of highs then
drops to lows. It is great that you can monitor the glucose, making
it easier to adjust meds and keep an eye on things.=20
For now, if ferret otherwise ok, just wait until am, check again and
call the vet for further advise. Hydration is key with the high
blood glucose, if he is drinking that will be fine. IF he is weak,
or not drinking, then sub Q fluids may help.=20
However, it is unlikely a few days of a high will cause any problems
until morning. A few more blood glucose tests can also help tell if
he is constantly running high and give you a little more info for the
vet.

Hopefully, this may all just be a need to adjust the dosing of the
dexamethasone. A little 'tweaking' of the dose may work.

IF at some point it looks like he has developed diabetes and needs
insulin- there are some great posts in the archives about that and
treatments as well.

Patty

--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "fdbp_ferrets"
<ale_s_s_dias@...> wrote:
>
> Hello All,
>
> Sorry for the long post, but I can not contact my vet and I am very
> worried here.
> > Last week we decided to try Dexametasone, as it only needs to be
> given once a day. The twice a day Pred schedule was driving the
> ferret crazy, he hated being waken up for medicine, hated the Pred
> taste as much as we tryed to cover it up, was starting to run away
to
> hide every time we appeared in the ferret room. Since them we have
> blood glucose 130 on the first day, 184 two days later, 237 four
days
> later and tonight (a week after starting Dexametasone) we have
430!!
> Now I=B4m very worried and did not give him tonight=B4s medicine. He
was
> being given 0,5mg of Dexametasone once a day.
>
> Any thoughts? Any help will be very welcome.
> I thank you in advance.
>



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