From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 12:20 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Subject: FAIML #405; March 27, 2000 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #405; March 27, 2000 1. URGENT 2. FAIML #402; March 24, 2000 3. FAIML #402; March 24, 2000 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. jADRENAL/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. URGENT Date sent: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 17:21:13 -0500 From: jmike46107@earthlink.net Dear All, I owe a big thanks to everyone who responded to my problem. It was overwhelming the number of people who responded not just with information but also with kind words and encouragement. Unfortunately it has turned out that I just simply was not informed in time to be of much help to Shelby. She has lost so much weight, and is so sick that I am sure surgery is not an option...I cant even get her to eat anything important, despite trying the tricks everyone suggested. We will be going to the vet tomorrow to say our final goodbyes. Your kindness will be remembered as much as Shelby will be. I can promise you the next ferret will get all the nutrition and attention necessary so I can have more options if a problem arises. Thank you all. Mike (and Clint)(and Shelby). Ps: by the way, i am switching email accounts. I can be reached at Jmike46107@hotmail.com 2. FAIML #402; March 24, 2000 From: Cjbandit@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 13:04:37 EST Dear Dr. Jerry Murray, I think you were referring to my post I have a 4-yr old ferret an affected right adrenal. Prior to knowing which adrenal was affected my vet from AMC reccomended the Lupron as opposed to surgery. After running SMA and CBC she said everything looked normal, she believes its best to take a conservative approach and believes in some cases the lupron can shrink the tumor. I'm feeling uneasy with this advice and am going to opt. for the surgery. It has only been about 3 weeks since Bandits had his first shot which was 100mcg of Lupron i don't notice any signs of improvement except he's passing more urine. Prior to the shot he was going very frequently almost every couple of minutes but only a very little would come out. Now its the opposite he voids alot of urine, I hope thats normal. I have heard some say his dose of lupron should be increased and I'm a little concerned about his lethargy. He seems to want to do nothing but sleep its real hard to entice him to play even tries to run back in the house when I take him out. I believe we will have the surgery and by Dr. Weiss because I want him healthy and happy. I hope this sleepiness isn't low blood sugar though, the the test showed a abnormally low reading "3" because it must have sat overnight before making its way to the lab. My vet said she did an in house she couldn't remember the #'s off hand but said it was normal?? But I hear it can fluctuate so much so I'm not sure how many times you should take a reading??? Thank you for your concern and useful information. Christina 3. FAIML #402; March 24, 2000 From: Cjbandit@aol.com Date sent: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 12:52:04 EST Dear Mike Wistken: I cannot really ellaborate with you on insulinomas in ferrets however i can identify with your circumstance. My little guy Bandit has a tumor some kind of growth anyway in his right adrenal and I have been contiplating surgery for many reasons, but in any event am leaning toward the surgery because the med Lupron is to ambiguous. Here's what I wanted to get to Bandit is extremely finicky and most recently stopped eating his ferret chow but I finally found something he likes and it was reccomended by one of the vets online-its PRO PLAN KITTEN FORMULA CHICKEN AND RICE FLAVOR- maybe you could give that a try. However I'm not sure how your trying to modify her diet but its gotta be better for her then 9 lives. Let me know if it works, Christina ----------------------- End of FAIML #405 -------------------------