From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2009-05-21 00:40:01 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Adrenal Disease
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I think a lot depends on the level of skill and experience of the person reading the ultrasound as much as the sophistication of the machine.
The problem with waiting until one of the adrenals is grossly enlarged is that the disease is progressing and may make it more difficult to remove if the right adrenal is involved. And there is no guarantee that the other adrenal is not diseased as well. Also the hope of a cure is better if the surgery is done earlier rather than later.
My vet generally opted to remove the left if both appeared identical when he went in because the majority of tumors affect the left adrenal.
However, the new thinking according to the last conference my vet attended is to remove both adrenals irrespective of which one is obviously diseased.
Pre-treating with Lupron may shrink the adrenal making it easier to remove surgically. And not every ferret is a good surgical candidate and not everyone wants to go that route. Some people prefer to medically manage the disease rather than opt for surgery.
My vet treats based on the clinical symptoms and if the choice is surgery - he now will remove both adrenals.
In Cannoli's case the ultrasound showed nothing remarkable although he had all the clinical symptoms. Because he was young (just turned 2) and had already blocked once we opted for surgery and pre-treating with Lupron. This was before the conference and when my vet went in it was the right adrenal that was affected. Because it was so early in the disease it was easy to remove.
Cannoli has done remarkably well for the past 10 months and I was starting to think it might have been curative, however, recently his fur is getting that ragged look again and therefore, he will get a Deslorelin implant as soon as it arrives.
Tressie
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