From:
"merylfaulkner"
Date: 2010-04-07 16:07:38 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] UpdateRe: Foster- post surgical diabetes - crash but alive
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Quick follow up - my vet tried 1 unit of insulin (think the protamine zinc type)yesterday morning and when I called about 3pm let me know he had crashed late am - bg plummeted down. She put him on iv fluids with dextrose given (as an IV "push") but by 5.30 when I went over she said the first "push "wore off and had tried again to get him high enough to be transferred. She was concerned since the dextrose seemed to be wearing off - probably because the insulin is a long lasting product. I waited until she got him up again by 7.30pm (bg440 with dextrose)and I drove rapidly to an overnight emergency clinic, (I got lost in my panic and took over 45 mins to get there). I heard him panting(probably seizing) about 5 mins before I got there. They gave him the dextrose fluids after I got there and said they would call me if he died. (Ain't doing good does not even describe him I think at that stage - his bg was I think they said in the 30's).
This am after a somewhat broken sleep I got a call at 7.15 am from the emergency vet- she said he was still alive and the "day" vet would be in to check on him and see if he could be transferred back.
My veterinarian said there seems to be variability in how ferrets respond to the insulin - some seem really sensitive, and she had thought that 1 unit would be sufficiently low. Guess not. Anyway, a ferret I had in 2003 was extremely difficult to stabilize and eventually did not make it. Guess one has to hope that the pancreas will recover some function.
Forgot to ask her if its usual that the pancreas "recovers", or whether the "crashes" after pancreatic surgeries are rare. This was a second surgery for Foster, but his first surgery as far as I can remember just involved adrenal surgery and nothing else. I worry that since usually pancreatic surgery does not result in this outcome, that something else is a problem as well. I'll update on his progress. BTW his kidney values were a little elevated on the blood work late yesterday - probably because of the hyperglycemia and pancreatic issues.
I just got a call from the emergency pet clinic at 9am pacific time - I'm to pick him up and transfer him back to my vet. Good news, but not out of the woods yet I feel. sigh.
Meryl
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, "merylfaulkner" <merylannefaulkner@...> wrote:
>
> I also had a prior ferret (in 2003) who was older(7)and the insulin doses were really tiny. In Foster's case some pancreas was left in place, cannot remember how much tissue was left in the 2003 ferret. However I wondered if anything much has changed in terms of controlling diabetes, and is it possible the remaining pancreatic tissue will rebound?
> Meryl
>
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