From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Saturday, October 16, 1999 10:12 AM To: mjanke@miamiferret.org Subject: (Fwd) Adrenal LIst #41 Forwarded message: From: Self To: @SENDLIST.PML Subject: Adrenal LIst #41 Reply-to: Lynn McIntosh Date: Wed, 25 Feb 1998 19:14:49 Adrenal List #41, dated August 26, 1997 1. Re: Adrenal List #40 - sneezing problems (Shadow/Rochelle) 2. Re: Article on Lysodren-- Requests for Input 3. Results from Vet - EB & Fiona 4. Need to make decision (please post) 5. Max update (post) 1.---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 25 Aug 1997 14:43:10 -0400 (EDT) From: ferretwise@top.monad.net Subject: Re: Adrenal List #40 - sneezing problems (Shadow/Rochelle) >6. For adrenal list - more sneezing problems >Date: Sun, 24 Aug 1997 12:55:04 -0400 (EDT) >From: ROCHELLE@art.fss.buffalo.edu >Subject: for adrenal list - more sneezing problems > >About 2 weeks ago I wrote asking for help for my older ferret, Shadow. I >wanted to thank all of you who responded; I am sorry for not replying >personally earlier, but I wanted to give the various suggestions time to work >(and working 16 hour days hasn't given me much time for email). > >Anyway, as a reminder, Shadow has had terribly, terribly dry skin (despite >mineral oil being rubbed on) and had been scratching herself raw. She also has >had sneezing attacks bad enough to give her a bloody nose. She's had >insulinoma for about 1 3/4 years, has been on proglycem for about a year and a >half, and pred for the last 6 months. She's also showing adrenal problems >again (left was removed a year and a half ago). We know the insulinoma is not >curable surgically (two failed attempts already), and she's not currently >strong enough to go in for surgery for the 2nd (right) adrenal. > >Well, a number of you suggested vitamin e for her skin, and that helped a lot. >A number of you also suggested children's benadryl, both for the itching and >the sneezing. I hadn't thought there was anything that she could be allergic >to (no changes in laundry detergents, etc.), but it suddenly hit me that most >of this started about 2 weeks after being put on amoxy for GI problems, and >although she was switched to clavamox, the two are quite similar. So, I took >her off the antibiotics (I did consult on this one!), and started her on >benadryl. This also seemed to help alot. >BUT -- the sneezing hasn't subsided. She still has these major sneezing fits, >so bad that she whimpers from them (and her nose bleeds). I think the problem >may be that her skin in her nose is so dry and thin that anything irritates it. > Anyone deal with this before? Since she's already on the benadryl (.2 cc 2x >daily), it shouldn't be allergies, right? She's miserable enough from the Rochelle, SO GLAD to hearthat there has been some improvement with the vitamin E!! do you use it topically?? Orally? share this with everyone!!! On the sneezing issue -- have you had your vet evaluate Shadow for cardiomyopathy??? Perhaps this is contributing to both the sneezing and the nose bleeds. It may be dry nasal cavitiews, but orally taken vitamin E should help there.... the lethargy, sneezing and nosebleeds combined make me focus on the cardiovascular system -- the heart to be frank-- I know it is a scary thought-- but one which may be helpful to evaluate. Also the prednisone will take a heavy toll on the heart, so cutting back is a GOOD thing. be caustious if you notice any lung congestion--- this could be fluid in the lungs-- consult with your vet and lasix by mouth helps here!!! Sending well wishes, Alicia a shelter Mom 2.---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Mon, 25 Aug 1997 22:38:08 +0000 From: "Karen Purcell, DVM" Subject: Re: Article on Lysodren-- Requests for Input Lynn and folks, I've had a request to do an in depth article on Lysodren use in ferrets, with doses and alternative treatments. Any input from those with experience would be very much appreciated. I will have this article published, so if you would prefer not to be listed as a contributor, please let me know with any info you may send. Thanks muchly, -Dr. Karen drkaren@world.std.com 3.---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 26 Aug 1997 07:42:24 -0700 From: Anonymous Subject: Results from Vet - EB & Fiona Hi All, I am the new member from CA CA Land. I am not real happy with the results from my vet I don't feel any of my questions were answered. I have one 6 yo MF female adrenal person and one 7 yo MF female insulinoma. My vet does not recommend surgery on either of these girls. Adrenal person is EB her vulva is slightly swollen, she has hair missing about an inch square above her tail, also her tails hair is thinning. Vet recommendations is do nothing. He did not want to do a Tennessee Panel because it is inconclusive. So here I sit with a sick little one and the vet is doing absolutely nothing. I am feeding her Timmy's Recipe and have put lighting in the ferret room that Dayna has recommended. I feel I should be doing more but I am unclear of what is the best course of action. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate them. (EB's glucose was 75 if that means anything to adrenal disease) Insulinoma person is Fiona she has had one seizure (I think it was a heat stroke which was brought on by the insulinoma). She is a little lethargic nothing serious I wouldn't think for her age. Vets recommendation is .2 (point two) ml's of predisone. Her gulcose was 56. It seems since she started the pred its hard for her to wake up, it takes approximately three minutes (not always) for her to open her eyes and respond at all, she seems very limp when in this mode and it scares me to death. In addition it has taken me three days to get her to successfully take her pred she hates it and when I scruff her to dose her with the pred tears roll down her little cheeks (I am not sure it is worth giving her the medication). Which leads me to some really dumb questions but I need the answers. Adrenal (EB) what do others do when surgery is not an option? Good vets are hard to come by in my area. (My vet came highly recommended by a ferret group some people drive a couple of hundred miles for him to do surgeries) Insulinoma (Fiona) what is the least stressful way to give medication? Since her energy level has dropped since I started the pred what does that mean? I give her the pred after she has eaten in hopes that the food will coat her stomach. Would she be better off without the pred? My only concern here is the quality of life for these two, I will do whats best for them. What would be the difference in the quality of life with medication vs without? Sorry I am asking so many questions you have already covered but like other posts I have read you really don't internalize medical problems until they happen to you so please be patient. Thanking you in advance for answers to any of my questions. Jill Owned By Rupert, Fiona & EB 4.---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 26 Aug 1997 07:52:21 -0700 From: Anonymous Subject: Need to make decision (please post) > Date: Wed, 20 Aug 97 11:13:37 PDT > From: "Todd P. Cromwell III" > Subject: need to make decision on initial approach w/Seldon (possibly Todd, I don't know if this will help but my vet told me that adrenals and insulinomas feed each other. They compensate for the others over/under production. In his opinion you generally have both because of the compensation. I don't know if that is correct. Jill Owned By Rupert, Fiona & EB 5.---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 26 Aug 1997 17:24:51 -0400 From: "Michael F. Janke" Subject: Max update (post) Things have gone downhill since my post about Max in list #38. The day after the seizure episode, Max started straining to urinate and I was understandably concerned that he might be blocked and off to the vet we went. Nothing all that unusual was found, as his bladder felt empty (according to the vet) but he continued to strain and try to pee constantly while he was awake. I then noticed pinkish urine (blood) and once again took him to the vet. A urine sample was taken and no bacteria or sediment was found, only red and white blood cells and epitheal (sp?) cells. Dr Pane thought an x-ray was in order to insure there were no bladder stones even though he wasn't blocking up. While the x-ray revealed that his bladder and urethera had no stones, it also showed a very enlarged heart. Blood work showed that his kidney and liver function was normal and an EKG was taken and sent off to the cardiologist. Thankfully, the cardiologist proclaimed the readings to be relatively normal. It's been a week now and Max is still peeing blood tinged urine and still spending all his waking time running from corner to corner trying to pee. I feel so helpless that I don't know what to do and watching him trying so hard to pee breaks my heart. Today my vet put a call in to Dr. Susan Brown in Chicago for a consultation, but she's out on vacation or something. She spoke to a Dr. Nye who is supposed to be a noted ferret vet (?). There were varying opinions but understandably, no one new anything for sure. The bottom line here is that Max will be on a couple of heart medications for a week or so to get that stabilized. He's also on Clavamox (Amoxycillin) and Torbutol (sp?) for pain. The vets consulted felt it might be a tumor on the bladder, or a prostate problem brought on by his adrenal problem. If we can get Max stabilized, we'll probably have to do exploratory to see what's going on with his bladder. I fear what they will find when he's opened up. Please say a prayer for Max. It's not looking good. Mike ------------------End of Adrenal List #41---------------------