From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Friday, March 10, 2000 3:03 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Cc: faiml@miamiferret.org Subject: FAIML #397; March 9, 2000 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #397; March 9, 2000 1. Harley Goes For Surgery 2. Grinding of Teeth 3. cost of Casodex 4. Dr. Kendrick Post 5. diuretics 6. FAIML #396; March 6, 2000: Diuretics 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. Harley Goes For Surgery From: Mary Rogers" Date Sent: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 8:52:02 -0600 Please say a prayer for my Harley who goes in for insulinoma/exploratory surgery on Monday, March 13th. I have total confidence in my vet, it's just the idea of putting him through the surgery. You all have been so kind to share your experiences with me and make me feel better, but I'm still anxious. He's doing great since I'm making sure he's eating Bob's chicken gravy twice a day. No more hind leg weakness by falling over like he did (which scared the you know what out of me) and playing more. His glucose was 63. I want to give him the best chance because he's only 3-ish. I'll keep you posted. I just hope he recovers like Scooter The Wonder Ferret did! Thanks, Mary 2. Grinding of Teeth From: "Buetow" Date sent: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 15:01:12 -0600 (CST) Hi everybody, I would like some advice, please. Buddy has been grinding her teeth a lot lately. I have mentioned it to the vet and he wants to do a barium study or exploratory. I'm leery of both--Buddy doesn't like being at the vets and manages to poop just from giving a blood sample. Might an ultrasound show ulcers, if that's the cause? (I'm afraid the cause is spreading cancer.) To give a few more details: At first she would only grind her teeth when I gave her medicine (pred and proglycem), but now I find her grinding her teeth for no apparent reason. She has not lost any weight recently and is quite a little tubby. Her stools have been very inconsistent, from very mucousy to very seedy, yellowish to dark-colored. She is eating okay and drinking a lot; her activity level is okay, but it could be better. She did go through ECE last year, but it's been at least 10 months. She was on carafate for about 2 weeks recently, but it didn't seem to have any effect at all. Finally, she has also been losing hair recently. Any ideas? Chris and the Sunshine Gang With AD and Pippy always in our hearts buetowc@sls.lib.il.us 3. cost of Casodex From: "Clare Sebok" Date sent: Wed, 8 Mar 2000 18:14:52 -0500 (EST) Bridgett has been on Casodex for several weeks. We think it is helping her because she is more energetic and some new hairs are sprouting. The only problem is the cost of this drug--we've had to pay nearly $100 for an amount that lasts less than a month. Does anyone know of a pharmacy in Maryland that has a better price? (We live in Columbia and work in College Park.) I am aware that Lupron or surgery would cost less, but we've already tried Lupron with little success, and Bridgett has had two adrenal surgeries already and I'd hate to subject her to a third (it would be a right adrenal surgery). She's doing well on Casodex; I'd just like to find a better price. Thanks, Clare P.S. Lupron has really done wonders for Buttercup. 4. Dr. Kendrick Post From: "Steve and Becky McMall" Date sent: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 05:01:20 -0600 I know some on this list also use Dr. Kendrick in Arlington. Would you be able to tell me if he has moved into his new clinic please? We want to take all the babies down for a checkup next month. Thanks, Steve and Becky 5. diuretics From: "Donald Dittman" Date sent: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 18:18:12 -0800 My Sylvia was horribly bloated and had trouble walking with such a big belly. I thought she was dying and took her up to be put to sleep because I thought it was a tumor. It happened very suddenly. The dr. told me it was congestive heart failure and put her on lasix. As the lasix took effect, her belly shrank in size, she became more active and looks much better. The dr. then told me to cut the dosage to every other day. BIG mistake. She immediately became lethargic and unresponsive. I upped the dosage again and she is fine. I've since been told that you should never stop the dosage once they are on it or they will die. Best of luck with your little one. Laurel 6. FAIML #396; March 6, 2000: Diuretics From: "Melissa" Date sent: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 11:08:17 -0500 >4. diuretics >From: "Susan S Saliga" >Date sent: Mon, 6 Mar 2000 15:54:34 -0600 > >.....My vet prescribed a diuretic for her and I >can't believe how much better she is doing. I also never knew that a >ferret had >such a large bladder! For the first two days her urine output was very >large...she now looks like she went down a "couple of jean sizes". Just an FYI: When someone is bloated from water retention, it actually accumulates in all the tissues. That's why people get "puffy" ;) When diuretics work properly all that fluid is released from the tissues. -In other words, she may have spent two days peeing constantly, but she didn't have 2 days worth of urine sitting around in her bladder, it was being stored all over her body -hence the going down two jean sizes! :) I haven't used diuretics with my ferrets but high protien can also work as a diuretic. Again (I can't believe how much I'm plugging this recently... where's my commission?!) Bob Church's chicken gravy or a similar high -easily digestible- protien diet might also have a diuretic type of effect. Also, believe it or not, WATER is a diuretic! The very thing you think you need to get rid of is what you (or your ferret!) should actually drink more of if you're retaining fluids. More water helps regulate the body's fluids and flush things out. It doesn't generally add to the problem. Ok... "Fuild Retention 101" is over. -Melissa __________________________________ http://members.aol.com/NYCFerrets http://home.att.net/~The_Ferrets __________________________________ ----------------------- End of FAIML #397 -------------------------