From:
"merylfaulkner"
Date: 2010-03-15 01:12:22 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Ferret with past adrenal and pancreatic surgery now low BG - what course now?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Today, tardily, I did Foster's (5yo male)blood glucose. I had been asked by my vet to re-check it about a month ago after his lab result was low. At the time, since behaviorally he had seemed normal, both of us (vet and I) thought it was from the blood having to sit before it went off to the lab. He seemed normal at the time. Now I'm kicking myself. Today it was 46. I tested him because for the last week or two he has seemed less lively, and yesterday got beaten up by a small female ferret who chased him and cornered him. A very strange result compared to his behavior just a few weeks ago ago, when he always cornered her and made her scream. So that alerted me something was wrong.He also stumbled sideways a few days ago.
Foster is a 5yo non-Marshall's ferret who at 21 months of age had adrenal surgery. Cannot remember whether he had any pancreatic tumors removed at that time, will ask tomorrow.
The last adrenal panel in early Feb showed a rise in one of the hormones - thank goodness he had his lupron at that time (early) at three months rather than four, and my vet agreed that he would need the lupron (which he has been on since his surgery)every three months - I've read here and elsewhere that 3 months for the four month depot is best.
My question is would there be any benefit in doing an ultrasound to see the extent of the pancreatic tumors - can they be seen on ultrasound, or should I go (if she suggests it - which I'm guessing she may)with an exploratory surgery, or should he at 5 yo be started on prednisolone? Foster does (despite the lupron) have a slightly thinning area at the base of his tail. He had a wonderful fur coat in the fall and looked good, but at the beginning of this spring seems to have not quite the fur he had last year. My vet has not been enthusiastic about importing the suprelorelin, but would use it if it was available.
I know my vet has done serial surgeries on individual ferrets - not sure how often. I was hoping with his earlier surgery to make it to 7 without having any signs of problems. Wondered what the average time for survival is after dx of insulinoma in ferrets treated with medications? Is there a better result in survival time if a surgery is done? Or is it a tossup?
Meryl
Meryl
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