From:
"Karen McCabe"
Date: 2009-06-05 03:58:35 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Adrenal Treatments Question
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "Tony Clarke" <Tonytclarke@...> wrote:
>
> I have read on this group fairly recently, but now cannot find the message, that survival times for females was longer without surgery.
> This was an abstract from a research paper. (perhaps Sukie can remember it?)
>
This may be the article you're referring to....
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/message/3882
>>>
"5. Studies with lupron 30 day depot formulation, 100 mcg for females,
200 mcg for males have proved that 1. its effects last 30 days in
intact ferrets in season (highest hormone levels and cycle to control -
it controlled it very well - melatonin didn't); It is superior to
decreasing hormone levels in ferrets with adrenal disease to
pre-adrenal, very low levels until the tumor is beyond pituitary control;
It slows the progression and growth of the adrenal tumor at least in
early stages, and in some this translates as years; ferrets in a controlled
study of lupron vs unilateral adrenalectomy: lupron alone was superior
to unilateral or partial adrenalectomy as uni/partial adrenalectomy
triggers a rebound of hormones higher than originally; lupron plus
adrenalectomy led to slightly longer lives in the males; females
receiving lupron alone lived longer than females having surgery. All
ferrets who receive adrenalectomy need to concurrently have hormonal
suppression to live the longest, the difference in surgical outcome was
in the males since the prostate enlargement frequently is the
life-limiting factor in males, not the size of the adrenal tumor itself."
>>>
Personally, I opt to no longer have adrenal surgeries done on mine at all and treat with lupron instead and I've seen much better, much longer lasting, results. One recent acception is my Jesse. Jesse had gone in for removal of a grossly enlarged spleen and my vet opted to remove the left adrenal gland while in there. Currently, I'm seeing the effects of the rebound hormones mentioned by Dr. Delaney in this article (I'm seeing behavioral issues which the lupron had been successfully controlling for years). Jesse is still on lupron, and will continue to be for life, so I'm hoping this will pass.
I'd also like to note (in reference to another comment in this article) that while I have seen prostate issues in several of my males that had had surgery (including two bilaterals) I have only seen it in one being treated with lupron, and that one came to me already full blown adrenal with prostate issues and without any treatment. Lupron alone has been successfully controlling the problem for 1 year 7 months now.
So far, my experiences tend to closely match the information in Dr. Delaney's studies and I would strongly suggest anyone with an interest give it a read.
Karen McCabe
http://www.cinnamonsprite.net
[Moderator Note:
That particular study involved very few ferrets if memory serves.]
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