From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Sunday, November 14, 1999 2:46 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Cc: faiml Subject: FAIML #352; Nov. 13, 1999 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #352; Nov. 13, 1999 1. adrenal recovery 2. Ben's high sugar update 2! 3. My Lupron ferret 4. What next? Insulinoma 5. Seizures? 6. Lupron 7. Bilat meds 8. Coccidia The FERRET ADRENAL/INSULINOMA MAILING LIST (FAIML) is a group that's come together to share support and information about adrenal and insulinoma diseases. FAIML comes out in digest format three to six times per week, depending on the number of posts sent, and their surgency. FAIML information is the opinion, only, of subscribers, mostly ferret caretakers. It is not medical advice, comes with no guarantee of accuracy, and is not meant to replace the examination and medical oversight of a qualified veterinarian. If your ferret is sick or exhibiting signs of illness take your fur kid to the most ferret- experienced vet you can find! A ferret- experienced vet is one of the most important services you can provide to your ferret. 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 email. 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 great 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. adrenal recovery From: "Federici, Paula" Date sent: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 15:36:58 -0700 Hi Everyone. I have a question I really need help with. My 6 y/o female Belvedere, is 3 weeks post right adrenalectomy. No meds. She still has a swollen vulva and is just now starting to loose hair on her neck and shoulders. She also seems very itchy. Otherwise she seems fine. Full of spit and vinegar. My vet checked her again today and is calling Dr. Weiss as he (my vet) is really puzzled too. When doing the surgery, the right adrenal was barely palpable and nothing noted on the left side. He also checked for any retained ovarian tissue and could find none. Have any of you had this experience? Please reply to me at PKgreek@excite.com Thanks all. Paula and the Fuzzy Mafia 2. Ben's high sugar update 2! From: "Karen O'Keefe" Date sent: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 22:45:24 -0000 Hi everyone, Just wanted to say that I took Ben back for his check up yesterday and the vet did a blood glucose test and well where it was just over 600 a month ago yesterday's reading was 300, I know that is still high but it has come down and not stayed at just over 600 or increased anymore ;o) Ben's vet said that she will leave putting him on Insulin and see if it comes down even more or if he gets worse in himself or develops ketones in his urine then she will do then. Also the fluid in Ben's abdomen has gone down a lot since coming off the preds and so the vet had a good feel of his abdomen yesterday and Ben's pancreas is swollen, no lumps or bumps just the whole of the pancreas is swollen, she does not know why that would be and if anyone has an idea we would love to hear it? So it is wait and see now if Ben's sugar comes down even more. Take care from Karen,Ben,Glyndwr,James,Cian,Kealan,Tia and Ella :o) *Love and missing my darling Billy so much* http://www.okeefe2.freeserve.co.uk/ 3. My Lupron ferret From: Mary Oyer Date sent: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 20:10:55 -0600 I posted a few months ago about our six and a half year old ferret, Rosie Squeaker, starting on Lupron injections. She received an injection in May and one in June. Rose passed away this afternoon. She would have been seven years old on January 4th. She was the very sweetest ferret I have ever been in contact with. She mothered all other animals that she met. Our three and a half year old ferret, Tiger Lily, was Rosie's protector. We couldn't do anything with Rosie without Tiger tagging along. Tiger is lost without Rosie. I've gotta go. Thanks for listening. Mary 4. What next? Insulinoma From: "Leslie Sturla" Date sent: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 00:15:48 -0200 Hi everyone--hope your sick ones are doing as well as my Samhain... Especially Molly, whose human posted on the last list. I've only posted once or twice so a little update on my situation-- I'm blessed with two ferrets, Sam and lb. My Sam is 6 years, insulinoma diagnosed in July. - He is on pediapred, 1 ml twice a day. -passed up surgery, since vet has never "done" ferrets. The closest specialist doesn't recommend it because of Sam's age. I feel Sam wouldn't survive the stress... (He goes into shock when he gets shots.) -Still plays (less) and exhibits hind end weakness. -Still eating, but very thin (always has been) thin skin and coat. -Stool appears normal--sometimes a little slimey. -no more staring, drooling or seizures. All things considered, he's doing well. But I do have some Questions: -I'm taking Sam in for another blood test to monitor his progress. Before I go, are there any other tests I should be requesting? -Is blood sugar the only thing I need to worry about since I've passed on the surgery? As well, I'm not sure what to expect in the time remaining. -If his symptoms worsen, do I just up the dosage? Are there alternatives? Some people wrote about weaning their ferrets off prednesone--is there some danger in continuing it's use? When does it stop being helpful? -How will I know when the tumor begins to invade other parts of his body? I am *not* a vet, a veterinary student, a biologist nor breeder. I got my babies "by accident," and I'm learning as I go. Any suggestions in "layperson" terms would be very helpful. Thanks everything! lesley and da boyz. 5. Seizures? From: "Dale Nupp" Date sent: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 23:24:38 -0500 Hello All: One of my fuzzies sleeps with me (a living, breathing teddy ferret). I noticed last night that he was squeaking in his sleep. Both his arms and legs were twitching and he seemed out of it. Well of course he was out of it, he was a sleep. He was hard to wake up. Well of course he was hard to wake up, he's a ferret. About five minutes later he awakened and was dooking and dancing away. Do ferrets dream or have nightmares? Could he have had a seizure? Here-to-fore he has been quite healthy but I get nervous when they have strange signs. Any thoughts on the subject? Dale 6. Lupron From: lynne wooldridge Date sent: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 22:06:53 -0600 I noticed a question about lupron recently and I am just getting around to replying. My Dustie had surgery in July 1998 for insulinoma, removal of one adrenal (the easy one), and had his spleen removed. I didn't know what to expect in terms of increased life span. I was hoping, of course, but was really trying to improve the quality of his life. He has done very well since surgery. He started lupron injections a few months after surgery because problems with the other adrenal gland seem so common. He has not lost hair, but his lab work came back indicating a problem with the adrenal gland. He is a chubby little guy- -five pounds. He was becoming lethargic and would "go flat" so often. My doctor decided to increase his lupron dose (doubled it), which doubled the price, of course, but his health is the most important consideration. The increased lupron dose has made a big difference in how he feels and is worth every penny. He has had no side effects from it and has tolerated the shot well. His adrenal is so involved with the vena cava that I think that surgery is out of the question. I would not put him through it again; he is about nine years old. He is definitely older and has slowed down, but overall the quality of his life is good. Hope that this helps. Lynne and Dustie in Austin 7. Bilat meds From: "Celia J. Clinkinbeard" Date sent: Sat, 13 Nov 1999 20:10:57 -0500 Hello, (Some of this stuff may have already been posted here before...) After Cokie's bilat adrenalectomy, she was put on Florinef and Prednisone. The initial dose was 0.25 mL of a compounded supension of Florinef (.03mg/mL). (So, 0.0075 mg Florinef) (Don't remember prednisone dosage right offhand). Her blood was drawn every week for several weeks for an electrolyte panel (Sodium, Potassium and Chloride--I was told the chloride wasn't of much significance) It COULD have been as frequently as twice a week. I'm afraid my vet records are a jumble and my memory is even worse. But, we kept increasing the Florinef dose after the blood tests revealed high potassium. After we got good electrolytes twice in a row we extended the length between tests-- 2 weeks, then monthly, etc. Now she's on every 2 months and doing very well. Her Florinef dose is now, and has been for a long time, 0.35 mL of the same mixture daily. I guess that works out to 0.0105 mg of Florinef. (She still takes prednisone, too) Hope you and yours are healthy and/or improving. You're in my thoughts. Celia 8. Coccidia From: WGHOL@aol.com Date sent: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 15:36:58 EST Sorry this is a bit off the beaten track, but I'd like to hear from anyone who's fert has had Coccidia. I think I'm seeing it now in my new man, Buster, and although he's on Bactrim for treatment, I haven't noticed any improvement. Two stool samples produced inconclusive results, and the info I've read is not really detailed. So where better to turn then someone who's been there, done that. Thanks in advance, Wendi & The Terrible Twosome Buddy (who me?) Buster (yes you...) ---------------------- End of FAIML #352 -------------------------