From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Sunday, June 13, 1999 8:14 PM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Subject: FAIML #300; June 14, 1999 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #300; June 14, 1999 1. Thea's scheduled surgery 2. Insulinoma 3. Schnookie 4. Introduction 5. Travers City 6. Re: FAIML #299; June 11, 1999 TO POST: Write POST at the end of your subject heading (the more specific you can be in your subject heading, the better) and send to . URGENT POSTS: If you feel the message is urgent please mark it POST URGENT and I'll send it out to subscribers as soon as I can, then include the message in the next list. CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: Please write POST ANONYMOUS after your subject heading if you don't want your address or last name published. SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE: Just use the one address for posts, subscription questions, requests, cancellations, comments, etc. The list is run by hand so just send me an e-mail. ADRENAL/INSULINOMA WEBSITE: FAIML ARCHIVES/PHOTOS: Past FAIMLs are being archived, with a search feature, on Michael Janke's adrenal/insulinoma web site: . Michael is also kindly posting pictures of FAIML subscribers and the ferrets at this site in the FAIML Album. Check out his site for more info. PAM GREENE's FERRET FAQs: I suggest people read (and reread) Pamela Greene's Disease FAQ's on Insulin and Adrenal diseases, as they offer a good background. I forward them to all new subscribers, and will gladly send them upon request. I also send the "Disease Package", a file that tells how to get all six of Pamela Greene's FAQs on ferret diseases. Pam also has excellent FAQ's about general ferret care as well, and a link to these may be found on the FERRET CENTRAL web site: . THE FERRET MAILING LIST (FML): The FML has 3,000+ ferret-loving subscribers and the topic is simply ferrets, ferrets, and more ferrets. Moderated by Mr. Bill Gruber, it's a good source of ferret entertainment and information. Visit FERRET CENTRAL on the web (see paragraph above) for more info on the FML. To subscribe to the FML, send email to its moderator, Bill Gruber, at and ask to be added. You can also try subscribing automatically by sending email to with the command SUBSCRIBE FERRET in the body of the email. 1. Subject: Thea's scheduled surgery From: Ron DeBaecke Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 20:13:36 -0700 (PDT) Hello all, And thanks Dr. Karen!!!! You put a smile on my face as i had myself very worried there wasn't a fix for Thea!! I scheduled Thea for this wednesday to have a second attempt at adrenal surgery. The first attempt wasn't successful because the right looked fine, but the left couldn't be found!! And no left kidney!! Hopefully there is a left that is bad and can be taken. But if it is the right, at least NOW i know we can take the right and not effect the only kidney she has... Thea is my little princess. She has had a rough life.. She lost her only play mate when the were both 11 months. Then at 18 months she started going into heat! Our vet went in and completed the bad attempt of being fixed. Kinda of throws out the idea of early nuetering causing adrenal???? She had a 7 month bout with ECE. Then the first adrenal surg. And now a second! Please keep Thea in your thoughts this week. She is a sweet, precious little thing.. I cant imagine losing her now... I will be devistated....But i know she will pull through.. She is tough. And only 3.5 yrs old.. sorry so long.. just venting :-] thank you for listening Ron 2. Subject: Insulinoma From: Janell Curtis Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 14:35:32 -0500 Hello. I have recently discovered my ferret may have insulinoma. I have the disadvantage of not have a very knowledgable vet near by (that I've found, anyway!). I need some advice. Does it always require surgery, or will the duck soup recipe be able to help her. I should mention, it has only been discovered because my ferret couldn't walk and I thought she had a stroke. I immediately took her to the vet who told me it was adrenal disease. While there's a lot I don't know about ferrets, I know enough that the symptoms didn't really point in that direction. Well, now they're thinking she simply threw her back out. However, I do know a vet several hours away who is VERY knowledge on ferrets, so I called him. He asked if she was drooling (not that I can tell) and is she licking her lips a lot? (yes) Well, any advice at this point would be much appreciated. The good vet didn't mention that he needed to see her, even when I kept making it clear I could bring her up on Saturday morning. I just thought this was actually a lot better than adrenal disease and it would just require a special diet. I'm discovering that may not be the case. Please advise! HELP! Janell 3. Subject: Schnookie From: "Bob F." harley74@concentric.net Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 14:09:33 -0700 Hi, I want to thank everyone that responded to my introduction, its great to see so many people care. This is what is happening with Schnookie now. Thursday I brought him back to the vet because he was vomiting so much, I was really worried. My vet is ferret knowledgeable, probably the best one in my area, I drive over 1 hour to see him because I don't know any other vets that have as much experience with ferrets as he does. I did ask about this possibly being a blockage and the doctor said no its not. The doctor did another blood glucose when I brought him in Thursday and it was 104, so thats better. Schnookie stayed at the vets for 2 days for sub-q fluids and observation. The vet says he is eating good now, his energy level is better and he is more alert. I just picked him up today, I missed him so much. He still has some diarreah but he is not vomitting any more and didn't the whole time he was at the vets office. So I'm going to keep a close eye on him and hope he is on the mend. Thank you again everyone who responded to me. Sandy 4. Subject: Introduction From: Richard and Katharine Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 11:41:15 -0400 I am responding directly and to the list. Now, I'm no vet, but it sounds to me that you may be dealing with a blockage. The symptoms are there. I think I would take him back to the vet for a further examination immediately. Katharine 5. Subject: Travers City From: "Mildred Moore" Date sent: Sun, 13 Jun 1999 20:18:53 -0400 Dear Darla, I am so sorry to read about you losing Travers City. It's hard to believe that he was so sick without showing it, but my vet once explained to me that they hide it as long as possible. My heart goes out to you, and I will keep you in my prayers. I'm sure that time and all the good memories will help you through this pain. And remember that his buddy will miss his companionship. I know that no other ferret will replace Travers City, but they all find a place in our hearts. Hugs, Millie 6. Subject: Re: FAIML #299; June 11, 1999 Date: Sat, 12 Jun 1999 06:50:12 -0400 From: Melissa >1. Subject: What Questions Do I Ask >Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 15:59:41 EDT >From: KTrythall@aol.comdu (snip) >Going back to the vet next week. What do I ask? What tests should be >done? > >What could this be? Seasonal? Adrenal? Heart disease? Partial >blockage? I'm glad you're still looking for answers. The cloth chewing concerns me for two reasons 1) it could be causing a partial blockage 2) Mine only did that when they were in pain which the aggressive behavior is also an indication of (though other ferrets not in pain chew cloth too!). I would most definitely suggest getting an x-ray to rule out blockages and -sorry to suggest this- tumors. Is he on a good ferret food? Is he grinding his teeth or swallowing a lot? -Melissa >2. Subject: Introduction >Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 06:27:29 -0700 >From: Bob F. Hi Sandy, It sounds like your ferret has a partial blockage which may require immediate surgery. I'm a little concerned that your vet didn't suspect this straight off. Do get your ferret in right away and have them run an x-ray. Let us know how things go. -Melissa > >3. Subject: Lysodren Reaction? >Date: Thu, 10 Jun 1999 08:59:27 -0400 >From: Valerie > >Our first 'son' Buzz had adrenal surgery (all of left and most of >right removed) about 2 months ago. The Dr. put him on Lysodren. >He's growing hair back, but very slowly. What worries me - he keeps >getting sores on his belly and sides. They're round and red, the >largest was almost 1/2" in diameter. They clear up in a few days. I >showed it to the vet and she didn't seem to think they were anything >to worry about. Could this be a reaction to the Lysondren? IS it >anything to worry about? I don't know if it's a Lysodren reaction, but it could be mast cell tumors (which are generally benign and come and go the way you've described) or it could be an adrenal symptom. The skin can get very nasty and itchy. If it continues, the Lysodren may not be working. If you're concerned it may be an allergic reaction, ask your vet for the proper dosage of Children's Benadryl for your particular ferret. If the redness and itchiness clear up with that, it may be the Lysodren or possibly adrenal but unlikely a mast cell tumor. -Melissa >7. Subject: Travers City... >Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 13:00:16 -0400 >From: Darla Callender-Sakaluaskas CGS UG I'm so sorry to hear about Travers. Very surprising news for things to have progressed to that point so quickly and dramatically since his last surgery. Especially since he seemed to be doing so much better. Good thing you did what you did though. Knowing what you do now, it's clearer why other things weren't helping his urinating problem. My thoughts are with you. -Melissa >8. Subject: Dusty is gone >From: Troy Lynn Eckart >Date: Fri, 11 Jun 1999 10:31:15 -0600 Somebody told me once that when a pet is ill and we're not sure if "it's time" yet, that we're probably not off by much. In other words, if we do end things a little too soon or let it go on a little too long, it really probably really is only a "little bit" at that point. Maybe we're only talking about a few days or weeks to soon. Maybe a month? But the point was that we're not robbing a life like if it were just a baby and we didn't know if there were possibly 5 more good years left. We're not really off by much when you look at the larger scheme of things. Looking at it that way helped me a little bit. Sorry you had to make that decision. I can imagine what it was like when he started to eat that meal in the office. If this helps at all, the night before one of my ferrets died she suddenly ate like a horse! She had a very aggeressive malignant form of cancer and we were keeping her comfortable. The tumors were back and she hadn't eaten much in days. It seemed like this was going to be "it". Then all of a sudden seemed to be in no pain whatsoever and chowed down! I couldn't believe it. I mean I knew she was still ill, but it was such a sudden change. About 10 hours later she started to slip away. I've heard about terminally ill people who suddenly seem better within 24 hours before they pass away. Maybe his eating was an idication that this really was moments before the time to go. Glad he was feeling enough relief to be able to do it. I'm very sorry for your loss. -Melissa ----------------------- End of FAIML #300 ------------------------