From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Wednesday, December 22, 1999 2:45 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Subject: FAIML #366; Dec. 21, 1999 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #366; Dec. 21, 1999 1. Zackari12/15/99 2. Zackari12/15/99 3. Zackari12/21/99 4. Lupron usage in animals 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. Zackari12/15/99 From: "Kathy Clark" Date sent: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 09:30:04 -0500 Thank you to Lynn and all who have responded to Lynn's post in my Zackari's behalf. To update everyone on my Zackari, 6.1 year old Sable, that had his right adrenal surgery on Tuesday morning. Per Dr. Prezant, just a few minutes ago, he is doing great. He is eating and awake this morning. The surgery went very well. Doc got as much as he possibly could see of his adrenal, witch was peasized. The other organs looked normal. He had some adhesions from his first surgery witch he freed up. No hair balls!!!! Or rubber things in his tummy!!!! Thursday Zack is having a ultrasound on his heart. There is still some shadows on his films that we can't figure out. He is negative for heart worms but this will tell us what's going on. Friday looks like the day he can come home. Dr. Prezant is in Stuart, FL and is a dedicated, loving, knowledgeable vet. If anyone in that area needs a good fuzzy vet he's the one at All Creatures Animal Clinic. Many thanks to you all. Your support mean the world to Zackari & I. It's so good to know there are fuzzy lovers out there like me. Thanks again, Kathy Clark & Zackari "Chuck, chuck and ferret kisses to all." 2. Zackari12/15/99 From: "Kathy Clark" Date sent: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 15:32:52 -0500 For all the wonderful ferret lovers out there that have sent me e-mails. Zackari update-Tampa, FL., is doing just fine. They did the ultrasound an noon. He has had allergies and azmua which has caused the right side of his heart to become enlarged from working harder. But at least no heart problem. So Dr. Prezant is putting him on to different medications to help him breath easier, which I can't remember, because I didn't write them down. He is going to keep him on the Melatonion because he didn't get all the right adrenal out. He was a little cold when he woke up, so he was under a heat lamp. But then was up and eating. He can come home tomorrow!!! SO THREE CHEERS FOR DR. ROSS PREZANT AT ALL CREATURES IN STUART, FL.!!!!!! Zackari says, "Chuck, chuck and ferret kisses all around." Thank you so much for being out there my ferret friends. Love and best wishes to you and all your many fuzzes!!! Kathy Clark & Zackari fuzzy. Bully & Picker over the rainbow bridge!! 3. Zackari 12/21/99 From: "Kathy Clark" Date sent: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 10:24:05 -0500 This is a update on little Zackari, 6 year old male sable with already his left adrenal out in March '97. We brought him home Friday with all his medications. He has more energy than ever. It's amazing. I thought I had Lynn post his ultrasound results but here goes again. Zack in the past has had bronchitis and his right side of his heart has grown larger and thicker walls because it's had to work so hard to pump oxygen to his lungs. But the good news is that he doesn't have Cardiomyopathy. So for his little lungs he is taking Theophylline twice a day, Dexamethasone every other day, Lasix we have discontinued until we see how the Dexamethasone works, Amoxicillin just in case his prostate is infected or anything else, Melatonin for an estrogen blocker twice a day. Poor little thing, we are always poking something uchy tasting at him. But he get the Nutracal in between each uchy. All in all he is doing great. From a little guy with now energy that would lay in my lap and sleep, to a just can't get enough snooping done before he goes to bed ferret. We are just the happiest humans on earth. Dr. Prezant did a wonderful job taking care of him. He knows he didn't get all the adrenal gland and he said we could do laser at a later date or lupron depending on his pathology results. Pathology should be back some time this week and I will post the results. Thank you to all out there that have sent us supportive e-mails. If I didn't get all of them answered I will try after the holidays. My heart goes out to all that have sick babies. Happy Holidays to all. Thank you, Kathy Clark & Zackari Tampa, FL MODERATOR'S NOTE: Hi Kathy (and Zackari!). I'm sorry I didn't get these messages out earlier. I got back from Alaska Sunday night, but a kid had hit and run both my and my husband's cars so I've been dealing with that. No one is hurt, well, except my "Cherry Ferret" Ford Contour, which is a great car. I'm driving a brand new Toyota Camry, and it doesn't hold a candle to my Cherry Ferret! I hope she'll be the same. But you know, my husband called me up in Anchorage early Saturday morning and I was sure something had happened to one of our fur kids... then it was just the cars. Thinking one of them was hurt really put things in perspective! I'm glad Zackari is doing so well Kathy! It's so nice when they get better, so wonderful to see. By the way, what's "laser" mean in your post? Keep us posted and a special hug for Zack :) Lynn 4. Lupron usage in animals From: "Lori Barber" Date sent: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 21:37:55 -0500 Re: Joy and Daisy who needs Lupron It is true that not many medications used in ferrets have been FDA approved for use in ferrets, but according to the FDA, ferrets are defined by exclusion from major species as a minor species. This means that drugs that have been approved for use in other animals can be used in ferrets. I have not seen anywhere that there are no problems using drugs approved for humans only in animals, but this seems to be a rather widespread practice. Can any of you veterinarians comment more knowledgeably on minor use minor species and FDA approval for animal drugs. In the short term, try to find another compounding pharmacy. From an article written by Charlie Weiss, "The Professional Arts Pharmacy (800-832-9285) in Baltimore, Md., will dispense the Lupron powder in separate, 2-mg portions with a vial of diluent and sell these as individual doses to veterinarians. Veterinarians must ask for Dr. Weiss’s protocol of 2-mg vials (it must be the 4- month depot). It appears to last an average of 4–6 months." Beware the different prices. You could be purchasing different dosages. Lori Barber E-mail: lori@infomeg.com ----------------------- End of FAIML #366 -------------------------