From:
"jbmccaughey"
Date: 2009-01-21 07:48:24 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Need help with diabetic ferret
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
If Oliver doesn't have a reason to be on a diet that is low in
protein, such as compromised kidneys or kidney stones, try to work
him onto a higher protein, lower carb diet with some fiber to keep
his glucose level from spiking and the pancreas from working as
hard.
You said you found the dosage in the archives, but dosages vary
across individuals and glucose levels can fluctuate as a result of
many different factors (up or down with diet, up with stress, down
with exercize, down with insulinoma relapse) that always giving a
set amount can be dangerous.
Oliver's blood glucose should be taken before giving him insulin,
and the amount of insulin should really be adjusted according to his
glucose level and estimated food and treat intake and composition.
It's something you will learn to gauge. Adjusting the amount of
insulin is especially necessary while changing his diet in order to
prevent dangerously low blood glucose levels. A diet higher in
carbohydrate is converted more quickly to sugar resulting in a spike
in bg level requiring more insulin to bring it down to normal. So,
if you change him over to a lower carb diet he should require less
insulin.
As you've seen, too much insulin could send him into a seizure. If
his bg drops further, he can even go into a coma which can be
lethal.
Have karo syrup on hand. If he does "bottom out" from blood sugar so
low he goes into a seizure, rub the karo syrup on his gums so his
blood sugar will go up enough for him to come around. Be sure to
wash any excess off the skin around his mouth to keep it from
itching.
You're able to take the bg at home which is great, you're on the
right track to being able to monitor him more closely.
The dosage right now is too high. You might have been reading about
a ferret whose pancreas was producing no insulin at all, while
Oliver may be producing some but not enough. You can try half a unit
twice a day for now, if his bg is normal when it's time for a dose
you might want to skip that one and adjust the next one. With a
different diet he might only need half a unit once a day, but on a
stressful day he might need a touch more...you'll have to gauge it
based on his bg readings.
Hope this helps.
Jaime
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "MaryM" <sirk6@...> wrote:
>
> In May of 2006, Oliver had surgery to remove his adrenals and the
vet also
> took a node off his pancreas. Shortly after surgery he went
diabetic and was
> on insulin for a short period of time until his glucose regulated
itself. We
> were blessed with 18 months of no meds, then the insulinoma
returned and
> Oliver was back on pred. On January 2, 2009 I noticed that his
urine was
> like honey and that there was increased urine as well. The vet did
a
> urinalysis and discovered sugar in his urine. I tested his glucose
at home
> and it was 390. I searched the archives and found the type of
insulin needed
> and the dosage and Oliver was started on it. Yesterday I went into
the
> ferret room to find Oliver laying in his sleep sack in a seizure.
His
> glucose was 29. It continued to rise during the day but was still
below
> normal. No pred was given. This morning his glucose was 369.
Oliver weighs a
> little over 2 pounds. He is on 1 unit of PZI VET insulin by Idexx
twice a
> day. Any suggestions on how to regulate Oliver's glucose is much
> appreciated. He is 6 1/2 years of age.
>
> Thank you,
> Mary
>
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