From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 1999 1:56 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Subject: FAIML #364; Dec. 13, 1999 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #364; Dec. 13, 1999 1. Administrative Note: I'm heading for Alaska again! 2. Screaming Ferret=Insulinoma? 3. adrenal question.. 4. Lupron doses 5. Quincy won't drink 6. Pediapred 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. Administrative Note: I'm heading for Alaska again! From: Lynn McIntosh Date sent: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 14:15:11 EST Hi there. Just wanted you all to know there will be no FAIML list between Dec. 14-18, as I'll be in Alaska for work. I expect it will be cold but oh, so, so beautiful! So, if you want anything posted before then send it Tuesday (tomorrow) and I'll get one more list out. Otherwise, remember you can always post in the wonderful Ferret Mailing List (FML) and there is info about that list, and subscribing to it, in the header of every FAIML. Thanks :) Lynn Mc. 2. Screaming Ferret=Insulinoma? From: "meagan quinn" Date sent: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 13:12:15 EST hi everyone! i have a rescue at my house (age about 3.5 or 4.5 by old owners). the other day she did the weirdest thing: she let out a screech like i have never heard before. We thought her foot was caught in something or she was hurt and we rushed to check on her. We found her in the dryer tube screaming. Both my housemate and i were trying to get her out from different ends so we weren't that efficient in getting her out. Her screaming had stopped by the time we finally did. She acted normal. Enjoyed the cuddles and ferretone we gave her. I chalked it up as a one time thing and to watch her. This am, i got a call from my housemate that said she did the same thing again. He rushed in to get her and she had let out this scream and did this sniffing thing that she does when she is excited or smells something new. I have no way to discribe the scream. It was screechy, but low. Not the earpiercing thing you hear when they are being dragged away by another ferret (she is rather loud b/c i believe she is deaf) I guess we are going to bring her to the vet for a BG, even though she isn't officially mine. I just wanted to know if anyone has heard this kind of screeching before? and are seizure screeches different than a ferret "i'm in pain get that ferret off of me!!" screech ? There are no other symptoms of insulinoma that I can see. She is in much better condition compared to when i rescued her. Any other thoughts? meg with bonnie (aka: littlewhitegirl) 3. adrenal question.. From: Megan Date sent: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 23:49:42 -0800 Hi everyone! I'd just like to get some opinions on my adrenal kid, Tonic. She had adrenal surgery on 9/21/99. Her symptoms at the time were a swollen vulva, lethargic behavior & very itchy skin. Her left gland was removed & the right looked normal. The histopath came back revealing that the tumor removed was an adrenal adenoma (benign). Her vulva has gone down 75% but still remains slightly swollen and hasn't seemed to change shape for some time now. It may even be a smidge bigger tonight, but eyeballing something isn't the most accurate way to size something. Her fur has completely regrown from where she was shaved, she is now sporting a new coat (in summer colors) and she has returned to being a very hyper girl.. So much so that I'm beginning to wonder who swapped her with a kit! Oh.. Her weight's good & she's about 4 yrs old now (MF). Seeing as it's almost 3 months post surgery... Shouldn't she be displaying no symptoms (aka her vulva returning to normal)? Or do I need to start thinking about getting her in again? Thanx in advance for any input! - Megan "Forget the dog, beware of the human." http://students.washington.edu/mdahlem/furo/ 4. Lupron doses From: Linda Iroff Date sent: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 09:27:00 -0500 Joy Be careful about the Lupron dose you are getting for your money. Doses vary by not only how much of the drug is in them, but on the time-release factor. The two most common are the 2 miligram 4 month dose (cost about $200) and the 100 microgram 1 month dose. Note that even spread out over 4 months, the first one is 5 times the concentration of the second. Some vets may be using other dosages and time release formulas. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PAYING FOR! Dr. Weiss recommends the 2 miligram 4 month formula. This produces good results for almost all the ferrets it has been used on. Some people who are not seeing results may be using lower doses. Linda Iroff Oberlin OH MODERATOR'S NOTE: Linda's absolutely right. In fact, Dr. Weiss has said the four-month dose lasts up to six months. Dr. Weiss has told me he's had calls about ferrets still exhibiting symptoms ont the 100 mcg and even 200 mcg monthly doses. So, for some ferrets the one-month 100 mcg dose is too low and, if one compares the cost of 200 mcg/month for the one-month to the cost of the four-month shot (which breaks down to 500 mcg per month) the four- month does save money. Note. Based on clinical trials Dr. Weiss is recommending surgery as a first choice where surgery is possible. He isn't seeing a reduction in tumors with Lupron and adverse longterm effects aren't known. You can read more about Dr. Weiss's clinical trials with Lupron and other drugs on Michael Janke's website (see headers in this list for the address). Lynn Mc. 5. Quincy won't drink From: ANITABEERS@aol.com Date sent: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 12:45:20 EST Hi Jennifer! Maybe you could try Gatorade, Pedialyte, or some other similar drink for Quincy? We found that our Jasla loves orange gatorade, and the vet said it's great post surgery since it helps replace electrolytes, etc. Hope this helps and good luck! See ya, Anita 6. Pediapred From: "Eden Rain" Date sent: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 19:06:09 -0800 As an alternative to the scarce liquid pediapred you should be able to get prednisolone tablets & grind them up per your vets instructions on quantity. We have a bottle here from a time when we didn't trust the big chain pharmacy anymore & hadn't transferred to the local compounding pharmacists yet. Lem didn't like it, but with enough ferretone or nutrical we could get it down. Good luck, Eden ______________________________________________ Eden Rain raghead@liripipe.com ----------------------- End of FAIML #364 -------------------------