From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Tuesday, November 23, 1999 1:49 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Subject: FAIML #355; Nov. 22, 1999 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #355; Nov. 22, 1999 1. Scamper 2. Cystic Adrenal Lesion cont 3. Chuki update please 4. New Vet in Toledo, Ohio 5. Diet for cancer 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. Scamper From: SBrown9530@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 20:37:48 EST In a message dated 11/19/99 10:22:13 AM Central Standard Time, faiml@uswest.net writes: << Scamper died at 3:47 am today. I had fed her, got her to take some electrolyte solution and use the potty. But she just wouldn't settle down and was trying frantically to "go somewhere". Her little tail was bushed out as if she were afraid. >> Becky and Steve, I'm so sorry to hear about Scamper. She may have been afraid to take the final steps to the Rainbow Bridge, hating to leave her family and fearing the unknown. I don't know where you live, but I also use Dr. Kendrick. He has treated 2 of my babies, but both are now at the Bridge, and are now probably playing with Scamper. Just have faith that ya'll will be reunited with Scamper in the future. Sandi 2. Cystic Adrenal Lesion cont From: "Emily Moon" Date sent: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 18:26:40 -0000 Hello again. Just as I suspected, no one responded to my question about whether anyone had experienced a "cystic adrenal lesion" inside the adrenal. I really want to know what the vet found inside my little Oliver, but will settle for not knowing because he seems to be doing very well. It has been a month since the surgery on his right adrenal. Oliver has always been quite the spunky little guy and, of course, still is. I think he's growing some hair back but they may just be the guard hairs that were shaved for the surgery. I wonder what steps I take now? Oliver is still VERY aggressive and I wonder if it's just his way of playing or if hormones are making him this way. He plays hard with the other ferrets and will bite any human that's afraid of him (I think this is a predator/prey test he does). Should my vet be doing a post-op check up? Should we have his blood tested? How do I know if he needs to go on meds or if he's ok? Is there anything specific that I should be looking for (except his hair growth, eating/drinking habits, and urination)? Also, if ANYONE has even heard of a "cystic adrenal lesion" will you please send me a message. I still really want to know what it is and what could have caused it. My vet is going to be talking to a doc in Tenn. who specializes in ferret adrenals. I don't know who this person is or how to reach him (I know he's male) myself. Any guesses? TIA, Emily, Jason, and the kidz: Bear, Oliver, Cleopatra, and our newly adopted little puff ball, Puck 3. Chuki update please From: Glenn Johnson Date sent: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 15:43:07 -0700 Hi Ferret People, This is something of a progress report on my Chuki that may be of interest those with insulinomic babies. Chuki is a 6.5 year old, 43 ounce male silver. In Oct of 98, Chuki had a yearly CBC which came back with a 79 mg/dl glucose level. One month later, a recheck was 77 mg/dl. While there were no other indications of insulinoma, I was convinced that it was, and in the last week of Dec 98 he had pancreas surgery. One small islet cell tumor (confirmed) was removed along with some surrounding tissue, but by no means a partial pancreatectomy, as I wanted it to be. My vet, even after going through the procedure with Dr Weiss, had misgivings about removing very much of what she considered to be normal, healthy tissue. Chuki recovered quickly, but the glucose level at 10 days post-op was 74 mg/dl. I was shattered, flooded with the vision of ever increasing pred doses, proglycem, and the inevitable time when there would be nothing left to help. But Chuki's a fighter, and so is his Pop pop, and we immediately went to the "duck soup" diet. We started with a simple 50/50 mix of pulverized TF and Gerbers chicken, nothing else added except enough water to get it through a feeding syringe. He loves it and the syringe is not needed, but we use it often, just to keep him used to the idea. He gets this three times a day, and, yes, I get up every nite at midnite to give it to him. He only gets 10 ml per feeding, a small part of his daily intake. This was to have been an interim measure while I sifted through the dozens of insulinoma "concoctions" available, but it worked so well that we never changed it. Chuki is tested every month. The lowest BS level ( other than the 74 post-op reading) recorded since his surgery was 77, several have been well over 100, the last one two weeks ago was 86.7 mg.dl. All readings are with a 3 hour fast. I hope this emphasizes the importance of a hi-protein supplement to an insulinomic ferret. I see it as giving my Chuki a year, so far, of good quality medicine-free life. My apologies (to those not already asleep) for being so long winded. Also, a big welcome to the FAIML for my email friend in Norway, Thone! Invest in ferret love, the return is awesome Glenn and Chuki 4. New Vet in Toledo, Ohio From: Ferretx7@aol.com Date sent: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 09:26:46 EST Hi, just wanted to let everybody know in the Toledo, Ohio area..that there is a new Vet in our area. Her name is Dr.Susan Orosz, DVM. And..she comes from the University of Tennessee! Where she did extensive studies on Adrenal tumors. She is more in favor of using Lupron, than any surgry at all! She is at the Shoreland Animal hospital. The downside is she will only be here for a year. Then shes going back to Tennessee. My "kids" are so happy, because ferret knowledgeable Vets are so hard to come by around here. Joan Vick and the 9 Toledo Terrors 5. Diet for cancer From: "Butts, Jennifer" Date sent: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 13:11:43 -0500 Hi all, since my girl got cancer I have been trying to do as much research as I can on ways to keep her as healthy as possible. I recently read that cancers "feed" more easily on carbohydrates, but have a hard time with fats, so they recommend a low carb, high fat diet. I talked to my vet about this last Tuesday and she told me that Hill's made a diet, called n/d, that was designed specifically for cancer patients. I was very excited about it and rushed out to buy a few cans. When I examined the nutritional information, even though it was made for dogs, it looked like it had all the right stuff for ferrets as well. She even ate a little of it (she is HORRIBLY picky), so I was quite thrilled. However, a couple of days later I was sitting down comparing it to the Eukanuba Maximum Calorie diet that she had been on, and the Eukanuba had a higher fat and protein percentage, and the ingredients seemed a littler better than the Hill's. I called Eukanuba the next day and found out that the carbs in their food was also much lower than in the Hill's; the only thing that Hill's offered that was better was a higher percentage of n-3 fatty acids, which are supposed to help boost the immune system and suppress the cancer. So weighing it all, I think the Eukanuba is better than the Hill's. Especially considering the fact that Hill's only comes in the very large cans and goes bad after three days of opening it (which there is no way she can eat that much!), but I talked to the Hill's people about making smaller cans (very helpful people!) and she told me she would forward my idea on, but it would be good to get more people to write in requesting small cans as well. So the point of this rambling is, does anyone have any experience, thoughts, suggestions about these or other diets. I read about Bob's chicken gravy, which sounded great as well, but if I can help it I would much rather buy something in a can (dealing with a whole ground chicken doesn't sound appetizing!) And if you are interested in the Hill's n/d email the company and let them know. If you want info on the n/d let me know and I can forward the web address to you about the food and also if you are interested in asking them for smaller cans. Thanks. Jenna ------------------------ End of FAIML #355 ------------------------