From:
"Jeff"
Date: 2011-12-21 22:21:10 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Potential adrenal baby, questions?
To: <ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com>
Hopefully this is a vet who is capable of doing a good exam and knowing what to look for in a ferret, including being able to feel for tumors, lymph nodes that may be enlarged, and other warning signs.
The blood glucose test is something to definitely do, and a reading below 80 is usually indicative of insulinoma, although there are some less common things that could cause a low reading as well.
Testing for adrenal disease with the Tennessee Blood Panel can be expensive (well over $200), and is the only way to measure the hormone levels that are indicative of adrenal disease. As an alternative, you might discuss having the vet put in a melatonin implant (Ferretonin), and then you can monitor him for the next month or two for any possible improvement in appearance and/or energy levels. This will probably run around $60, and if it does produce positive changes, then it is a good indicator that you are dealing with adrenal disease. And even if you are not, a melatonin implant cannot hurt in any way, since ferrets do need fairly high levels of melatonin for normal health.
Jeff
In Loving Memory of Neo, Trinity, Morphy, Dozer, Possum, Pip, Pop, Sabrina, Minnie Mouse, Hunny, Misty, Frodo, Baggins, and Mr. Parker
Caring for Luna, Baby Girl, Boomer, and Zoomer
>We do not have experience with this disease. What should I be asking the vet? What tests should I ask for? I want to make sure he gets what he needs before it's bad.
>Thank you!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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