From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 4:55 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Cc: faiml@miamiferret.org Subject: FAIML #380; Jan. 29, 2000 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #380; Jan. 29, 2000 Hi. Some little fuzzies on the list her need special prayers and thoughts. Especially, Jack (and Amy) who's going through a really, really tough post-op. And there are a couple little insulinoma babies having a hard time, too. Somehow Victoria's message didn't get in the last list and I feel badly about that. She resent it today without an update so I hope all is well. Keep us posted all of you! I'll send prayers for these little fur babies tonight. Lynn 1. Unbelieveable Week 2. Victoria diagnosed with Insulinoma 3. Bandit's update!! 4. casodex-- post 5. Baby food for insulinoma 6. losses 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. Unbelieveable Week Date sent: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 17:00:16 -0800 From: "Amy C. Dempsey" On Tuesday I took Jack in for adrenal surgery. It was hard because he's so healthy and happy and having just lost JJ after his surgery. The surgery went well, as it turned out is was both adrenals - the left was removed and the right de-bunked and 4 nodgules on his pancreas. He was groggy but alert when I took him home at 5:00 pm. I had a huge project due and went back to the office. At 7:30 suddenly I just knew I had to go home. When I got home he was seeping badly from his stitches. At around 8:30 I notices he started seeping blood not just liquid. I couldn't reach my vet for about an hour but then finally got a hold of her and met her at the office. I ended up being the surgerical assistant. His abdomenial cavatity was full of blood, but it appear that everything had clotted. I have to say it was facinating to be involved in the surgery, but it was horrible knowing it was my little boy. We got him home, and he was extremely lethargic - but of course he had had two major surgeries in one day. Wednesday he was really out of it and barely wanted to eat. Thursday morning he wouldn't eat and his stomach was bulging. At 11:30 Thursday, in the middle of rushing to a meeting, I turned around and went home. Jack was in the carrier, it was soaked with blood and his guts were hanging out and I mean lots of stuff. He was breathing heavy and looking at me like what have you done to me. I grabbed him and rushed him to the vet, right back into surgery, - the inner stitches had failed - fortunately mainly fat had fallen out, (of which one piece was found the carrier - my SO found it and called the vet to say that she had part of his intestines -), mostly everything went back in and he was sown, and glued back up! Today, Friday, we had to give him some subQ fluids but he did want to eat! I feel terrible. I know that I was trying to do the right thing, but look at the hell I just put him through. I pray he makes it. Please everyone say a prayer for my little boy Jack. A sweeter boy has never been. He's a big beautiful 4 lb sable bundle of joy. Of course on Thursday while I am rushing to take Jack to the vet I miss feeding Little Bear on her schedule and she has a seizure, my SO can't wake her up, I had to have her bring her to me, and I manage to bring her around and now shes fine (she'll be 9 years old next week). So I end up going to a big government meeting, covered with Jack's blood and duck soup from feeding Little Bear. This has been a week I don't want to repeat. Amy and her 5 fur snakes and 13 fur angels P.S. Heidi in PR, my vet here in St. Croix is getting very knowledgable about ferrets if you need some help. 2. Victoria diagnosed with Insulinoma Date sent: Sun, 23 Jan 2000 15:58:08 -0700 From: Sara Easterly I've only been receiving e-mails from the FAIML for about two weeks now, and just wanted to thank the group and Lynn for doing this, as it's already been so helpful. A special thanks also to Michael Janke for the adrenal/insulinoma web site, which helped save my ferret's life Friday night. When I joined the list, I thought my 6-year-old ferret Victoria just had adrenal disease, and was looking for non-surgical ideas on how to treat her condition. (Our vet did not consider her a good candidate for surgery, due in part to the fact that it was her right adrenal gland that was affected, and largely because of her cerebella brain damage from accidentally being stepped on by a house visitor a couple of years ago, from which she never fully recovered.). For some strange reason, Friday night I had an inkling to look at the insulinoma emergency procedures page of Michael Janke's web site (before, I'd just focused on reading and re-reading the adrenal pages). As I read through the insulinoma symptoms, I thought perhaps Victoria's recent lethargy, once-in-a-while teeth grinding, and recent more-than-usual trouble walking could be indicative of insulinoma. I wrote myself a note to ask her vet about it Monday. Within just one hour after reading the pages, Victoria began having seizures. So, luckily, I knew just what to do and was able to pull her out of the seizure within a couple of minutes. I rushed her to the hospital, and blood work showed a glucose level of 23. After staying the night in the hospital and seeing her regular vet in the morning, Victoria's home with me now so I can nurse her back to health. I'm feeding her 10 cc. of A/D every couple of hours, as well as lots of Duck Soup. We've also upped the dosage of Prednisone she was already taking. She loves eating the food, but is still very lethargic and groggy. The worst is that she can barely walk now, as she didn't walk that great before any of this was diagnosed, and now her front legs are all bruised and sore from IV's and blood work. She has a hard time walking anywhere without violently falling over and hitting her head, and I must hold her up to go to the bathroom. Sorry this is so long...Mostly, I just wanted to thank everybody for sharing their experiences and for creating helpful web sites to help keep us ferret owners as knowlegable as we can be. Also, if anybody has any ideas for little helping Victoria, 'regain her feet,' I'm quite eager to hear them! 3. Bandit's update!! From: "Michele" Date sent: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 08:59:28 -0500 Hello once again its me Michele from New Jersey sending out my fur babies vet visit from last nite.. The vet took his time and answered all of my questions as to why Bandit is dragging his hind quarters and that even with the new medicine(proglycem)he is still having seizures..He told me its from his insulinoma and that he is still having seizures because his blood sugar still is not regulated..I asked about his diet and if he needed some extra help like duck soup and he told me not to unless he wont eat because my Bandit weighed in at almost 3 pounds and he does not want him to gain anymore weight..He also told me we had a long way to go using the prednisone and the proglycem which for the very first time gave me more hope that Bandit might live at least another year if his blood glucose can be regualted..So my vet increased both the prednisone to .75cc's twice a day and to .25cc's of proglycem twice and day and my vet did not want to waste my money for another glucose test since he said bandit is still not regualted why waste my money when in a months time if ...and only if Bandit does not have another seizure he would like to do an ultra sound of his adrenals and his heart as both were supposedly enlarged when the first vet did Bandit's surgery and found those two things enlarged..yet never removed anything..and misdiagnosed poor Bandit .. I will post again in a few days to let all of you know if the increase of his medicines stops him from seizuring and regulates his blood sugar..I have to call the vet in two weeks to let him know if Bandit is finally siezure free. I want to thank all of you for your help and your support during this whole episode with my Bandit..I know without all of your help and support I wouldn't have been able to feel hopeful now that Bandit might live another year or so.. Take care all and hugs to all of your babies.. Michele and Bandit:>) ~To touch someone....You must first touch their heart~ 4. casodex-- post From: Onecrested@aol.com Date sent: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 09:51:53 EST i have a ten year old female marshall farms female named J.C. she is my pride and joy and has in december been diagnosed with adrenal gland disease. i have been a subscriber of these posts and find them very helpful -- J.C. has only lost a tiny bit of hair on her tail and is acting normal otherwise. she stil eats well and i have had no problems from her. The veterinarians want to do surgery at the Vet school were i attend but i thnk she is too old and dont want to rick it. we are starting a mitotane drug regimen soon with J.C. i have read in some of the posts about Casodex. What is this drug and what is it used to treat? Thank you for any help everyone can provide. Amity Alyssa J.C. and Mel-- my two fuzzies 5. Baby food for insulinoma Date sent: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 13:16:53 -0800 From: Linda Knights RE: Duck soup with insulinoma - you mght want to try giving them chicken baby food instead. It has no sugar additives which makes it better for insulinoma ferrets. Beechnut makes a chicken in broth (chicken in gravy has milk products which aren't necessarily good for ferrets). We take a can of the baby food, mix in softened ferret food (was left to soak in water - in the refrigerator - overnight). We then puree the mix, adding a teaspoon of chicken broth for flavor. You can also add a touch of ferret vitamins for flavor. We take that mixture and pull it up in feeding syringes and give it 3-4 times a day (or as often as necessary). We were able to keep one ferret with insulinoma off pred for a year after she was diagnosed. And that is a year with no symptoms of the problem. She's now on a little pred but we gave her a year without meds. Another one of our boys has been on pred for about 6 months for insulinoma but we've noticed he does MUCH better when we give him the baby food a few times a day to supplement his normal eating. Email me if you need any more info. Linda K (and 14 fuzzy little friends) 6. losses Date sent: Fri, 28 Jan 2000 10:37:55 -0500 From: Moxie So sorry to hear about the recent losses. It may be a good idea to adopt a buddy for the guy who lost his friend, if he will accept another ferret. Every ferret is different. Mine were fine when they lost cage mates as there were other ferrets still there to cuddle with, and my last surviving ferret didn't want anything to do with another ferret. I took him to the shelter in hopes of fostering a needy ferret, but he soured up and wanted nothing to do with another ferret, so he remained the center of attention for the remainder of his life. I've heard that some ferrets can get very depressed when losing a friend, so keep an eye on him. To Troy Lynn: Please don't second guess yourself on the surgery you decided on for the ferret that didn't make it. You do so much for ferrets, and your last post is indicative of the types of ferrets you care for, the ones no one else wants to take the time for, i.e., the poor little guy who can't urinate on his own. I don't know of many people who would have the knowledge or compassion to take on a ferret like that. I can't praise you enough for all the work you do. Moxie -- * Page me online through my Personal Communication Center: http://wwp.mirabilis.com/949746 (go there and try it!) or, * Send me E-mail Express directly to my computer screen 949746@pager.mirabilis.com For downloading ICQ at http://www.icq.com/ For adding similar signatures to your e-mail go to: http://www.icq.com/emailsig.html Moxie and Chance ----------------------- End of FAIML #380 -------------------------