From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2010-01-06 03:16:51 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re:adrenal treatment, new to the site, .
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi everybody,
Seems to be a difference of opinions on what is the
best treatment option for adrenal ferrets. Both surgery and
medical treatment have pros and cons, so it really must be
decided what is best for each ferret based on age, health,
owner's financial abilities (yes cost is a real factor), etc, etc.
If one removes just one adrenal gland then there is a good
chance that the remaining gland will become a problem in future
(6-36 months, usually <12 months). In one study from the
vet school in the Netherlands by Dr Nico Shoemaker (when
followed until death and autopsies done) 100% of the study
ferrets had bilateral disease. Some may not have obvious signs
but still have adrenal disease microscopically. Thus if you remove
just one gland then it makes sense to treat with Lupron, melatonin
or Deslorelin to try to prevent the remaining gland from becoming
a problem. On the other hand, if both glands are completely removed
and no accessory nodules from the adrenal glands are left in the fat
pad, the adrenal disease is "cured." However a new disease called Addisons
is created, and the ferret will need hormone supplementation (pred,
Percorten)
to remain alive.
Yes, fat can make estrogen but not enough to cause a problem unless
there is still some adrenal tissue there. Vena cava ligation has some
serious
potential problems because ~25% of the ferrets will die after vena cava
ligation
(Dr Avery Bennett's study), so it should be used as a last resort option
for big right adrenal tumors. BTW that 25% is the same for dogs and humans
too.
One potential problem with medical management is the adrenal gland may
progress
to the carcinoma stage and becoming a very large tumor. Some can become
fist size or bigger. That can happen with Lupron, or melatonin, or Deslorelin.
That is
why a lot of vets use both Lupron and melatonin implants together (to try
to
prevent the adrenal gland from becoming a big tumor).
No easy answer because there are a lot of pros and cons to surgery and
medical
treatment.
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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