From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2009-06-05 00:28:07 UTC
Subject: Re: Bilateral adrenalectomy, yes or no? Re: [ferrethealth] Digest Number 1545
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
On Jun 4, 2009, at 8:10 PM, ferrethealer@aol.com wrote:
>
> **This is controversial, and has been recommended due to the fact that
> there were reports that in the majority of ferrets, the second gland
> would
> become diseased if left in the animal. In my experience, and in the
> experience
> of a number of my colleagues, that is not true
>
<SNIP>
Over the years about 1/3 of our ferrets have had adrenal disease. Of
those only a few wound up with the second gland ever having adrenal
disease, so I have to say that our own family experience echoes that
of Dr. Ruth, in that most have NOT had the second adrenal become
diseased.
On the other hand, Steve and i are familiar with Addisons and do NOT
take the risk of that at all lightly. In fact, we always try to have
meds handy even when a ferret gets just one adrenal out just in case
the second one was suppressed or atrophied, and that is despite only
having run into that once in our close to 3 decades with ferrets.
Fortunately, ferrets usually can do well for years on those meds, BUT
if the stresses -- including illness -- that they are under change for
the worse, or their physical activity levels increase, or they gain
weight then the doses can at times need to be increased. Also, if
they develop diarrhea then Fludrocort won't cut it because it can pass
out too quickly to work so then Percorten must be used.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
------------------------------------
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/