From:
Soren Tabnitz
Date: 2011-08-06 02:24:01 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Re: Insulinoma...
To: "ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com" <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
I have to agree with Caitlyn--
Response or lack thereof to Pred is not a way to diagnose insulinoma or rule it out. Everyone responds to medication differently. Sometimes the disease outraces the drug and you max out the highest allowable dose--which is when you have to add in diazoxide.
Pred. is an inexpensive stop-gap, but while ferrets tolerate it well, it's a drug that we should remember is *really* hard on the body. It can cause GI ulcers, it causes excessive thirst and urination, and it's a catabolic steroid--it breaks down muscle mass so your ferret gets a pot belly even while his spine and ribs become prominent.
If you can afford the surgery do it! It is not a cure--the cancer will come back--but it can give your ferret years of quality time--especially if you do it early, while he still is relatively healthy and a good surgical candidate.
--SKyla
[Insulinoma generally is not cancer. However, pancreatic cancer in ferrets can cause the same symptoms as insulinoma. --Moderator (CMM)]
------------------------------------
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/