From:
"mo_1997_88"
Date: 2010-04-17 15:51:17 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] New member; Rufus & Insulinoma
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Hi. I have a 9 year old ferret, Rufus, who was diagnosed with insulinoma about 4 years ago. Until recently, his sugar has been well-controlled with 5mg/5ml prednisolone, 0.125 ml/day. Seizures were minimal, just some trembling once every couple months or so. Three weeks ago, Rufus had big seizure. He was thrashing around, squeaking (he never makes a sound - we've only heard him one time in 7 years before this), body contortions, & bladder void. It got so bad at one point, he actually shoved one of his feet into his mouth & bit down hard.
Since then, he's had one big seizure (a week later) and 5 little seizures with the trembling & weakness & sometimes his little paws sweat.
Vet - who is very ferret-knowledgeable - has been advising different pred doses (first lower to 0.05 ml 2x/day then higher, 0.1 ml 2x/day). Then Rufus had an all day seizure (I think) on 4/13. He only ate once at 7 a.m. then slept all day without once getting up to potty or eat or drink. We went to the vet, his sugar was tested & was so low they couldn't even get a reading. Vet gave sub-q fluids & a shot of Dexamethasone. I've also still been giving the pred 0.1 ml 1x/day. Rufus was better until 1:00 this morning. I checked on him before bed & he was having another small seizure. Brought out with some Karo syrup on the gums after about an hour. I don't know how long he was seizing before I got to him though.
My question (for vets preferably) is this: vet said that a 2 shots given at the same time to dogs will almost always give them diabetes. Depoprovera & depomedrol. He thinks this might be something to try with Rufus to see if it will kill some or all of the cells causing the insulinoma. He seems to think that short of death, the worst case scenario would be that Rufus gets diabetes, which he said is easier to control than insulinoma. But he doesn't really know what will happen since he's never heard of anyone else trying it.
Has anyone ever heard of trying this? Do you know someone who did? What was the outcome?
I would love to try this, not only to help Rufus but to help other ferrets with insulinoma if it works. Imagine the possibilities! I'm really not a fan of experimental medicine, especially on those I love. But the ramifications of a good outcome seem to be outweighing the dangers in my mind.
Does anyone else think this could possibly work?? I would love to get some other opinions on this.
Thanks,
Maureen
------------------------------------
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
ferrethealth-digest@yahoogroups.com
ferrethealth-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ferrethealth-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/