From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Friday, June 16, 2000 12:33 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Cc: faiml@uswest.net Subject: FAIML #435; June 15, 2000 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #435; June 15, 2000 1. Misty update..not too good 2. Insulinoma question 3. Adrenal 4. Reply: Right adrenal options 5. Reply: Lupron questions from Canada 6. Reply: Is this significant? 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. Misty update..not too good Date sent: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 00:32:09 -0400 From: "Linda" Well I have not posted about Misty in a while. I am sorry but it has been really hectic here. For those of you who don't know Misty has insulinoma and adrenal. She was on Lupron and Prednisone. She was supposed to get the second Lupron shot this month and was on .2 cc's of prednisone but will not be getting the second Lupron shot and has refused all meds. So right now I am just making her as comfortable as absolutely possible and will help her to the bridge only if absolutely necessary but she does not seem to be in any pain. She is down to less than a pound. In Febuary she was a record of 2 lbs. I will try to keep you all updated on her condition. I am also worried about Thumper, her cage mate(that is one of the seven). They have all been taking really good care of her but Thumper is has been with Misty since December. It is a good thing that she has everybody else to help her with the grieving. I also have one quick question. How young can a ferret be when they start to show signs of adrenal? I have one that has become more and more loving and very maternal. And I had heard that is a sign of the females going through the adrenal. Misty had the same thing. The one I am worried about with this is Lightning. She is only seven months and does not show any other sign of adrenal. She has just lost her baby coat and is growing the hair back very good. Am I just being a paranoid mom or should I start looking for the signs? Dooks and Blessings Linda and the 8 carpet sharks 2. Insulinoma question Date sent: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 05:03:29 -0400 From: "Kennel, Leann" Hi all, Was just looking for some information regarding Insulinoma. My friend's ferret may possibly have it. She is scheduled to bring him in for bloodwork next week to determine whether he has it or not. He has seems to be fine and acting as he normally does. She brought him in for a checkup because he'd been losing weight. He went from 2.5 lbs. to 1.5 lbs. in the last month or two. What should she ask her vet? How long is the survival rate? Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. We are both very worried about Ed. I have forwarded information for her to subscribe to this list should she find out he DOES indeed have insulinoma. Also I've given her information to view Mike Janke's and Pam Greene's sites for further information. I am a subscriber because my ferret Rikki was diagnosed with Adrenal disease 3 yrs ago. She had surgery at that time and I am happy to say she is still with me as well as my 5 other fur-babies. Thank you in advance. Hugs to all your babies. -Leann 3. Adrenal Date sent: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 05:00:36 -0700 (PDT) From: "Sandy Ferreira" Hi all, I have some questions about my ferret Schnookie. He is 3 years old. I took him to the vet yesterday because he looks like he is losing his muscle tone. He has not lost alot of weight but his back bone seems to stand out more than usual. The vet said he looks like he is working on an adrenal turmor but did not want to do surgery yet because it could be too soon to see the tumor. His skin looks dry and he is itchy, he has some undercoat on one side and none on the other, he isn't bald anywhere but his rear feet look sparse, I can see pink skin. Can I get some advice from anyone on how long I should wait before scheduling him for surgery and what should I watch for. I am going to be feeding him duck soup twice a day because I'm not sure if he is eating well and I want to keep his strength up so he will be ready for surgery when its needed. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks, Sandy ____________________________________________________________ www.ferretnetwork.com - The Ferrets United Network www.ferretlovers.com free e-mail for ferret lovers sponsored by Modern Ferret magazine www.modernferret.com 4. Reply: Right adrenal options Date sent: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 00:10:38 EDT From: AFERRETVET@cs.com Hi Sharon and Cutie, You asked for treatment options for a right adrenal gland problem. As I have been recently posting, the options are 1) surgery to remove the right gland or 2) to try to control it medically with Lupron and/or melatonin. My question for you is: are you using pred for an insulinoma, or for the itchy skin? The itchy skin is from the adrenal gland disease and pred will not really help. Once you get the adrenal gland disease under control then the itchy skin will resolve. Jerry Murray, DVM 5. Reply: Lupron questions from Canada Date sent: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 23:58:36 EDT From: AFERRETVET@cs.com Hi Sally and Moxy, You asked a couple of questions about the use of Lupron (i.e., 1 month -vs 3 month, freezing Lupron, dosage) and about treatment options for pacing and anxiety. You said that Moxy had a return of signs (swollen vulva, hair loss) when you changed to the 3 month version of Lupron. As far as I know the 3 and 4 month versions work just as well as the 1 month version. It is interesting that Dr Taylor thought there was a difference in results from the different versions. My question would be: What dose is he using? The 1 month version is the one I use (since 2/98). The dose is 100mcg/kg up to 500mcg/kg every 4-5 weeks. In my experience most ferrets (80%) respond to the 100mcg/kg dose, but carcinomas require higher doses (200-300 mcg/kg) to get a good response. If the right gland has spread to the liver then the 300-500mcg/kg dose can be used. If Moxy does not respond to the monthly injection then it is time to raise the amount of Lupron. In my experience freezing does not cause a problem. The reason we freeze it is because Lupron does not have a preservative in it. As for your question about pacing and anxiety-it may be from the adrenal gland disease, but it is not a common problem. If it still remains after you get the adrenal gland disease under control then it is time to consider using an antianxiety drug. The one we use most in small animals (and birds) is liquid Prozac. The dose is 1mg/kg once a day orally. Most ferrets do not like the mint flavor. One last thing about Lupron- the FDA here in the USA recently approved a once a year Lupron implant called Viadur. This is for human males with prostate cancer. The implant is about the size of a matchstick. Maybe in the future we will have a yearly implant option of Lupron for ferrets, but the human one is too big and contains too much Lupron for use in ferrets. Plus the cost is above what most people could afford Jerry Murray, DVM 6. Reply: Is this significant? Date sent: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 13:10:29 -0400 From: "Michael F. Janke" >6. Is this significant? >Date sent: Sat, 10 Jun 2000 15:31:22 -0400 >From: "Peggy" > >A friend posted this to a BB and no one seemed to have an explaination. >Opus was recently diagnosed with the start of insulinoma. Her post is >quoted below > >"OK, I have a question for all the ferret parents out there who are giving >their fuzzbrats prednisone. I don't think mine is Pediapred, but it might be. >It's in liquid form and is a bright translucent pink, and Opus seems to like >it pretty well, even though it is strong enough that he shakes his head the way >the cowboys do in the movies after they throw back a shot of rotgut. I've used Prelone when pedipred is not available, and it definitely has a pink tinge to it, though I wouldn't call it bright pink. It's pretty bitter stuff and in fact, I don't recall pediapred tasting all that great either. I usually mix the pred I have to give, be it pediapred or regular prednisone, into soft food and my Beasley eats it without any hesitation. I think giving it directly would probably result in some head shaking and pretty nasty looks at the very least. It should be given with food anyway, so I would suggest to her to try mixing it into some soft food. For the ferrets, Mike * Michael F. Janke, mjanke@miamiferret.org * South Florida Ferret Help Line, 305-752-7040 * * Website: http://www.miamiferret.org * Adrenal/Insulinoma web site: http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc ----------------------- End of FAIML #435 -------------------------