From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2000 1:38 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Cc: faiml@miamiferret.org Subject: FAIML #416; April 26, 2000 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #416; April 26, 2000 Hi. I can get one more list out tomorrow evening, then I'm off to Fairbanks until May 5. I'll be home two days (so can get a couple lists out), then leaving for California May 7-11th. Both trips should be great. Remember, you can always post to the daily FML (info below) :) Lynn Mc. 1. Tally query 2. Baby food 3. Weird Toe Growths 4. FAIML #414; April 20, 2000 5. Miscellaneous 6. Re: FAIML #415; April 23, 2000 7. Stephanie- Insulinoma Info 8. Re: FAIML #415; April 23, 2000 9. Re: FAIML #415, compounding pharmacy 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. Tally query From: Zatsusan@aol.com Date sent: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 06:10:07 EDT Dear All, This is a request for ideas/information. I do have a very knowledgeable ferret vet as you may have read and will take Tally in to see her if this persists. (She did see him a week ago so don’t want to bother her if he is alright.) Thing is, Tally is grinding his teeth a fair bit. I’ve read before that that can be a sign of pain but otherwise he seems fine and in no pain. He’s a lot more active than the other two and seems happy. He is also making an odd sound if I pick him up while he’s asleep and sometimes when he’s awake. It’s a kind of sigh/moan, almost like a very long, quiet dook. He had his spleen and left adrenal gland removed in January and recovered very well. Any ideas? Please email privately if you don't mind. PS The boat holiday was brilliant! Luv Susan, Tally, Bailey and Fane. 2. Baby food From: Cjbandit@aol.com Date sent: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 11:10:09 EDT Hi everyone, Quick question?? Bandit is eating duck soup for the time being and I also add chicken or turkey baby food either stage 1 or 2, depending on what I can find. I just noticed stage 2 contains corn starch, I'm assuming this is a preservative?? Should I stay with stage 1 which is turkey or chicken in broth (all natural) no corn starch?? Maybe the vets have an opinion whether the corn starch is bad or not?? Thanx, Christina & Bandit 3. Weird Toe Growths From: "MARIN CORDERO" Date sent: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 15:35:20 -0400 Hi Sue! My MF albino female, Mitsuko, had an "alien pod" very similar to the one you describe grow out of her toe this winter. It grew from a red bump which resembled a mast-cell tumor into a black, pedunculate 5mm-long nodule which bled at the slightest touch in just six weeks, at which point we had our vet freeze it off. The biopsy came back negative for cancer, and she was and is in perfect health other than the pod. I still don't know exactly what it was (other than annoying to her!) but I do know it was benign and it hasn't come so far. If your vet turns up something more definitive than "not cancer", please let me know - I'd love to know just what it was! Healing thoughts to Jonesy! Marin and the pod-free three 4. FAIML #414; April 20, 2000 From: "barbara m. bolas" Date sent: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 18:03:18 -0400 Message text written by INTERNET:faiml@sttl.uswest.net > Rado absolutely *hates* the taste of it. The good news is, you give them so little (0.07cc for our Rado) that it's easy to scruff them, and shoot it into their mouth quickly. >Does this seem reasonable? Odo absolutly hates the prednisone. < Hi, My little Bodhi, gets both proglycem (3x) and prednisone daily. Here's how I've made it totally stress-free for both of us: the liquid - drop it into a saucer and cover with Linatone (or Ferratone), stir and serve. the pill - also in a saucer. Add 1-2 drops of warm water. When it's dissolved, add the ferratone and serve it straight. Now when Bodhi hears, "time for your medicine," it's synonymous with "Do you want a treat," and he actually looks forward to it. No scruffing. No wondering if he got it all. By the way, a bottle of Proglycem lasts about 3 months at 2 doses daily. We've just gone to 3 times so it will go a bit more quickly. Good luck to you and your fur-kid. Dooks, Barbara and The Bodacious One 5. Miscellaneous From: "Dale Nupp" Date sent: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 04:02:48 -0400 Hello All: Thanks to Dr. Murray, tle and Mary McCarty (and anyone else I missed) answering my questions about taste and cost of proglycem. It turns out my vet must have been on drugs himself :o) when he told me it only cost $90.00 a bottle. Turns out they sell it for $130.00. Odo is doing much better. I think all of the hand feeding (what a lazy ferret) and medicating is finally working. Although he still has hind end weakness he was able to climb the outside of his four foot high cage to the top. A week after surgery he finally seems to be coming around. Insulinoma surgery is kind of scary. Thanks for everybody's kind thoughts and advice. Personal note to Mary McCary-Houser: I think I've had Tugg for almost a year. He has doubled in weight. He send his love. Dale 6. Re: FAIML #415; April 23, 2000 Date sent: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 19:57:55 -0400 (EDT) From: "sharon wagner" My 7 year old had major surgery and amputated tail back in Septmeber and has been on prednisone twice a day since. Now i had him to the vet last week because the vet felt around, and felt he had an enlarged lymph node, had the other one removed in september along with two tumors on pancreas for$500 now wants to have ultrasound done and start again. I chose to not put him through this again already. He is eating, playing and does not appear in pain but when he does, i will have him placed in heaven. Enough is enough. I thought when I spent $500 I would have some relieve. I did , but for less than six mnths. 7. Stephanie- Insulinoma Info From: "lynne wooldridge" Date sent: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 16:53:49 -0500 Stephanie, sounds to me that you need another vet. No wonder you are upset.First of all, my Dustie has had insulinoma for about five years. He had surgery in 1998 in July and did very well until Nov. when he got ece, a horrible virus. There are some good recipes for duck soup. The one I use combines A/D, crushed up Totally Ferret, and chicken and gravy babyfood by Gerber, with a little water added to make a soup. It is important that your little one eat frequently and also that you minimize stress in the environment. I keep a little dish of Totally Ferret and a dish of fresh water in Dustie's cage at all times for snacking. Each case is different, so what happens with one ferret may be different than another. This list provides some excellent ideas that will help you. Good luck with your little one. Lynne 8. Re: FAIML #415; April 23, 2000 From: Cjbandit@aol.com Date sent: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 21:33:13 EDT Stephanie, Regarding your post about insulinoma and your INSENSITIVE VET the only comments that I can add is DIET DIET DIET. My Bandit has a history of fluctuating high/low BG levels now I know that this may not be the case for your little guy, but I have had success with duck soup feedings every (3-4) hours I know its not a cure but I believe it truly makes a difference. I have heard many success stories of little fuzzies living long lives w/insulinoma with the proper meds and diet. I think your on the right track with switching vets, I only wish I knew someone in your area. I'm sure somebody online will come through for you. Take Care, Christina Sharon, My Bandit has Adrenal Disease and as you know itchiness and Adrenal go hand in hand. I find that bathing him in Colloidal Oatmeal Bath is very helpful, you can get it in CVS where they keep the Calgon and bath stuff. The vet says its fine. Hope that will help. Christina 9. Re: FAIML #415, compounding pharmacy From: "Nancy Patterson" Date sent: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 16:41:47 -0800 (PST) I found a "Compounding Specialist" Pharmacy if anyone is interested-They have lots of special flavors and seemed pretty ferret friendly. I talked to them about Heartworm prevention, but have not actually been in yet. They also prepare meds no longer available. The Web site is; familypharmacy.net E-mail is familyrxhc@aol.com Phone number is (941)921-6645. Hope this helps. Nancy and furbrats ----------------------- End of FAIML #416 -------------------------