From:
"Debbie"
Date: 2009-06-12 03:45:41 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Spontaneous Diabetes
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Pippin was diagnosed with diabetes 6 months ago, its not the bad prognosis the vet might think. My vet said the same thing, there just isnt enough information on it in ferrets for them to go by.
The PZI insulin they used wasnt good for him, I researched and got him on Lantus, a long acting smoother safer insulin. He is doing pretty well, he has his ups and downs but nothing like he was when diagnosed, about the same shape as your little one sounds now.
He spent a couple of weeks altogether in hospital on and IV, they become dehydrated so quickly at those high values, their body tries to urinate out the glucose and they can go down hill quickly. He really needs to be on an IV and get his insulin started in hospital. Once his numbers start to come down the support of the IV can be removed and you can definitely handle this at home.
You will need to learn to test his BG with a meter at home, I use the tail tip mostly and paw pads, he is used to it and doesnt even notice his tests now after so many.
Diet and timing are most important too, no carbs, all protein diet with small regularly spaced meals works best and keeps them more level.
Starting insulin at a small dose and working it up as necessary is the best way to go, too much insulin too fast is a mistake I made in the beginning and it can take weeks to correct.
Start at one unit BID and hold for a few days then adjust up or down as needed to see the lower BG numbers.
I will pm you my email feel free to contact me, I am happy to help if I can.
I joined a feline diabetes board and got a lot of help that way too with dosing and such. I recommend it especially in the beginning.
The thing to remember is that diabetes is a treatable disease, dont give up on him, he will soon feel much better and be able to enjoy life again.
You can do it and I can help.
((((((((((hugs)))))))))))
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "mrsracerx869" <mrsracerx869@...> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> One of our girls Flicka was just diagnosed with DKA (not sure I have that right). I took her to the vet this morning because she showed no interest in play last night and this morning she had an upset stomach. My vet is researching also, but she's given a very poor outlook because it's so rare in ferrets. Flicka is 3 nas not had insulinoma surgery, had a blood glucose of over 600 and ketones in her urine. She's had fluids, antibiotics and a low dose of insulin before coming home with me. She won't eat, not even ferretone to give her a little boost, but she still has the runs. The vet has checked with specialists in the area and they aren't able to treat her either. I'm just hoping someone may be able to offer some treatment options since I'm waiting to see that she doesn't have a reaction or overdose to the insulin she had received earliertoday.
>
> Thanks
>
> [These may help since the type of insulin matters:
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL7571
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG18301
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL4849
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL3892
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG330
> and more in the easily searched and excellent
> FHL Archives:
> http://ferrethealth.org/archive
>
> --Moderator]
>
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