From:
"meryl"
Date: 2010-12-03 18:31:33 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Ferret with hind leg weakness and insulinoma- hind leg weakness permanent?
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Dewi a 6 and a half yr old ferret has been deteriorating over the last few months. Shortly after I adopted him three years ago he had an exploratory surgery - forget if he had any pancreatic tumors at that time. The surgery was done after he had an urethral obstruction two days after my adopting him - and vet wanted to check for tumors.
He was diagnosed approximately a year ago with insulinoma (unsteady walking, low blood glucose). Over the last couple of months we have had to raise his pred dose (he currently gets the tabs - 1/2 of a 5 mg tab twice daily).
He originally weighed 2.2 pounds but had dropped in the last couple of months to 1.7 - losing some muscle mass and fat. In the last month his appetite has sometimes gone down, then increased. He also has developed hind leg unsteadiness, which worsened in the last week.
I took him in Tuesday - 11/30 to the veterinarian, who has said in the past he might have lymphoma, and usually lets/encourages her clients to make their own decisions re euthanasia. She said after doing an in house blood panel if I wanted I could raise his pred to 6mg a day from the 2.5mg twice daily (1/2 prednisone tablets). And said she had used pred at higher doses. I guess (as I feel as well)that if the animal is in reality not going to recover from the disease process, why not raise the dose. I'm also switching to oral prednisolone.So he's going to be on 6mg daily (2mg 3times a day)
He is slightly jaundiced, his bilirubin was elevated - as was his ALT and ALP. I wondered (forgot to ask, and there may not be an answer) if the hind leg weakness is a sign of chronic low bg, a sign that he has lymphoma. or due to muscle wasting?
He is now this morning 12/3 eating dry food again. His hind legs lie to the side as he eats. His eyes look bright this am (probably the pred making him feel good?)
I don't want to put him through too much discomfort. Any guesses/knowledge about the progress of leg paralysis/weakness?
Meryl
[Going to Prednisolone is smart.
When the liver is at all compromised
it does not process Prednisone into
Prednisolone very well in ferrets. The
Prednisolone form is needed before
the med can work, so skipping that
liver step which derives Prednisolone
from Prednisone is smart when the
liver is compromised.
These may be useful for you:
<http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/PDF/Ferret_GI_path_reports.pdf>
<http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/Clin_Path/ClinPath.html>
<http://www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/PDF/Lymphoma_Ferrets.pdf>
FHL members who have encountered
hepatitis, or lymphoma, or both in
ferrets more recently than I have will
be able to help much more.
-- Moderator]
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