From:
Caitlyn Martin
Date: 2010-01-07 14:12:44 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] lookin for a vet that wont me so pricey swollen adrenal surgery
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
On 1/5/10, Whats it to <bamzys_kiss@yahoo.com> wrote:
> thank u for all the help!!! i am puttin money a side for this surgery an
> from what iv learnd the surgrty will be the best way... i live in vermont an
> would like to know if anyone may know on a nuther vet that may give me a
> price that i can get to faster. i have beed makin calls an tryin to find
> more vet the help farrets but i must be missen somthin.thank u once again
> for all the advice
Choosing a vet just because they are cheaper may not be the best idea
when it comes to adrenal surgery. Left adrenal surgery is fairly
routine. Right adrenal surgery is not as the adrenal gland is
adjacent to the vena cava, the main vein to the heart. There are
different methods that vets use to remove a diseased right adrenal
gland (conventional microsurgery, cyrosurgery, and laser) which have
been debated here often. The two vets I've trusted most both have
said that the best method is the one the vet is most comfortable with
so there is no one right answer regarding what procedure to use.
The point is that in cases where the right gland or both glands
(bilateral) are affected the surgery is more costly and much more
difficult on the ferret, the vet, and particularly in the case of
bilateral surgery the owner during what can be a difficult recovery.
The chance of success depends entirely on the skill of the vet. You
want a vet with the most successful experience, not the cheapest one.
Dr. Murray mentioned a 25% mortality rate when the vena cava is
ligated. Our original ferret vet, now retired, is the one who
pioneered that procedure for right adrenalectomies. He was the first
to do it. He claimed a success rate around 90%. I've heard and read
of other vets who had mortality rates as high as 50% and who are very
reluctant to do a right adrenal surgery at all for that reason. Dr.
Murray's number seems like a very realistic average. Since you
probably won't know which gland or glands are involved until surgery
you really do need to have the best possible vet.
Currently I travel three hours for my ferrets to see a vet I trust
with serious health issues. She's fairly expensive, too. There are
several vets nearby who treat ferrets. One is excellent but terribly
expensive, two I've had really bad experiences with and others have as
well, and one just doesn't see that many ferrets or do many surgeries.
It's a matter of balancing costs vs. results.
I'll mention again that you may be able to work out a payment plan
with the vet you choose. Some also offer financing through commercial
companies, an option for those who have good credit. That will make
it possible for surgery to be done sooner rather than later without
bearing the full cost up front.
You also didn't mention what really expensive is to you. A right
adrenal surgery is always more expensive than a left and a bilateral
is more expensive still and will require more aftercare. I'd expect
surgery to cost anywhere from $450-$700 for a left where everything
goes smoothly to well over $1000 for a bilateral where there are
complications from surgically induced Addisons Disease. The "terribly
expensive" vet in this area starts out around $800 for a left and it
goes up from there. As Sukie mentioned before, ferrets require very
specialized care and it is expensive. I'd rather go to Dr. Expensive
and get good results than to Dr. Not-So-Competent.
Ten of my ferrets have had adrenal surgeries over the years. There
were six who had left adrenalectomies, two right adenalectomies, and
two bilateral, both of which had the left gland removed and then later
needed the right out after a recurrence of the disease. 12 surgeries,
12 where the ferret made it through. I also had one rescue who came
to me with advanced adrenal disease and obvious neglect. She was
about five years old and is the only ferret I've lost during an
adrenal surgery. Even if you count that as 12 out of 13 that's a good
track record, one I attribute to outstanding vets.
Once again, I am not a vet. I don't even play one on TV. I'm just a
moderately experienced ferret owner.
All the best,
Caity and the terrific trio
Ella, Zephyr and Chin Soon
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