From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Wednesday, December 15, 1999 12:53 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Subject: FAIML #365; Dec. 14, 1999 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #365; Dec. 14, 1999 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: Last FAIML until 12/20 or 12/21 2. Limping 3. Zackari 4. Zackari 5. Frostie has gone. 6. Reply to Meg - Adrenal Question 1. Administrative Note: Last FAIML until 12/19 or 12/20 From: Lynn McIntosh Date sent: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 09:18:15 -0500 Hi there. I'll be in Alaska, working, until Sunday, December 19th, so if you need to post something send it to the wonderful Ferret Mailing List (see FAIML header paragraphs for info on subscribing, etc.). Talk to you all soon! Lynn Mc. 2. Limping From: "Debbie Magerr" Date sent: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 15:03:39 -0800 I took Sid to the vet because he has been limping for over a week. He doesn't seem to be in any pain. I am not sure what "hind end weakness" looks like so i had a glucose test done. the vet said it was 64. she also said if she were to send it to a lab, it would be about 50 higher than that. is this true? (which would make him low/normal) he also has a large spleen. I have to go back to re-take xrays of his abdomen since their machine broke. any ideas??? Debbie & Sid 3. Zackari From: "Kathy Clark" Date sent: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 08:30:25 -0500 MODERATOR'S NOTE: This message was recently sent out on its own and is being included in the next list, as usual. Lynn Mc. Hello, Lynn. We have gotten moved to Florida OK. But my little Zackari needs everyone's prayers this morning. Saturday I took him down to Dr. Prezant in Stuart, FL. He keep him and is going to do his surgery on the right adrenal this morning. Zackari was really having trouble urinating yesterday because the prostate enlargement that comes with adrenal distress. His glucose was 100 after a 4 hour fast which is better than last time at 84. He isn't eating very well. He has something going on with his heart. He as always had a shadow on his x-rays. We thought maybe heartworms but he never showed any symptoms and tests were negative. Dr. Prezant is going to look around in there really good. I just hope he doesn't find cancer everywhere. Zackari was 6 Nov. 22nd and I know we are lucky to have had him this long. I'm 3.5 hours from him and my car is acting up or I would be there holding him this morning. I know I would be a basket case and get in the way. I just couldn't stop crying yesterday. Love you all your fuzzes. Kathy Clark & Zackari fuzzy baby. Tampa, FL now. 4. Zackari From: "Kathy Clark" Date sent: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 15:50:35 -0500 Thank you, Lynn: Everyone's prayers must have helped Zackari. He had a pea sized right adrenal and he got as much as he could scrap & snip without getting to artery. Dr. Prezant is sending it off to the pathologist. All his other organs looked good. He had some adhesions from his first surgery so he freed those up. There is still some questions about his heart. Doc sent his films to Gainesville to heart specialists for reading. Then on Thursday he will have an ultrasound done on his heart. Dr. Ross Prezant is the best. I know Zack was in good hands. It may be Friday before I can bring him home. Thanks again, I will keep you posted. Kathy Clark & Zackari fuzzy baby. 5. Frostie has gone. From: "Margie" Date sent: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 07:18:13 -0600 MODERATOR'S NOTE: This message was recently sent out on its own and is being included in the next list. Lynn Mc. Frostie left me Monday, December 13, 1999. Cause of death was kidney and liver failure. She had insulinoma which helped speed her departure. In her last weeks, she slept through her feeding times. When she did eat, she could gain any weight in the end. In the end she lost a muscle tone. May she rest in the peace of her Creator. 6. Reply to Meg - Adrenal Question From: JLGloer@aol.com Date sent: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 22:02:11 EST Meg, On your question about your Tonic and not all the symptoms disappearing after surgery. Our one ferret Chayse had the left adrenal removed late in June 1999. She did not improve at all or much with the hair loss or the itchy skin. Granted, Chayse never had the swollen vulva, but had many other symptoms including humping everything, discharge from the vulva, spot peeing, itchy skin and others. Within 2 months of the surgery all the symptoms were back possibly a little worse than before. The specialist we are now seeing has said they are noticing most ferrets do not completely recover from adrenal with surgery alone due to the surrounding cells also have the same diseased tissue and there is no way to remove these tiny cells 100%. It makes a lot of sense in our case. We opted not to due the surgery on the right adrenal because of the experience level in this area with the right gland. The choice is all up to you. We will begin the Lupron shots soon. I wish you the best of luck! ----------------------- End of FAIML #365 -------------------------