From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Sunday, July 02, 2000 8:13 PM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Cc: faiml@uswest.net Subject: FAIML #438; July 2, 2000 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #438; July 2, 2000 1. Predisone for Insulinoma 2. Bruising 3. REPLY ON THEA 4. Subject: Thea 5. Reply: Casodex (bicalutamide) 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. Predisone for Insulinoma Date sent: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 20:48:25 EDT From: Anonymous I have a little girl that has insulinoma. I have been feeding her 3 times a day with Bob Church's Gravy. This keeps her on an even keel. What I would like to know is," Why is Predisone used for insulinoma? " How does it help? Thank you for any help you can give. Dianna and the Merry Band of Illegals 2. Bruising From: AFERRETVET@cs.com Date sent: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 20:54:21 EDT Hi Ron. You recently posted to the FAIML about bruising on the abdomen of your adrenal ferret. If the bruising occurred at the time of the surgery then it is normal. A lot of the adrenal ferrets will bruise after exploratory surgery. However if the bruising occurred 3 weeks after the surgery then it may not be bruises, but actually hemorrhages. Petechiae, and ecchymoses (hemorrhages) are common with estrogen toxicity to the bone marrow along with anemia. If the purple color is from hemorrhages then Arimidex along with Lupron can be used. Blood transfusions may also be needed. Another possibility is the purple color is from the mammary cancer. If that is what is causing it then Nolvadex with Lupron can be used. It is time to go back to your vet to find out what is causing the purple color and then to treat it accordingly. Jerry Murray, DVM 3. REPLY ON THEA Date sent: Tue, 27 Jun 2000 16:36:03 EDT From: JHerge9760@aol.com Sorry it took me so long to reply but I just read my e-mail. I had a ferret that had the bruising on the stomach. Of course the vet was closed so I had to take her to emergancy they told me it was something called auto immune shutdown syndrome which is very common in dogs with weaker immune systems but they had never seen it in a ferret. Her entire stomach looked like one big bruise. They did a blood transfusion but unfortuneately by the time the blood starts to show it is usually too late. They told me Tedra (that was her name) was producing blood cells that her body was rejecting due to her weaker immune system she had had adrenal surgery 2 months before and had a slow recovery. There is nothing you can do. Hopefully this is not your case but seeing as it is not common in ferrets it is something to mention to your vet. Good luck. Let us know how things turn out. Stephanie and the 4 trouble making fuzzies 4. Subject: Thea Date sent: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 12:57:49 -0400 From: "Melissa" >1. Thea..again.... POST URGENT >Date sent: Sun, 25 Jun 2000 08:13:12 -0700 (PDT) >From: "Ron DeBaecke" >....may 30th he went in and found a very large right adrenal. >.......today,,, her abdomen is slightly swollen but COVERED with what >looks like a >huge bruise. >..... she does seem to be a >very little off balance or week in the hind legs.. but still climbs up on the >bed,etc... Hi Ron, Obviously this should be checked out by a vet asap, but since she seems to be acting fine and she's recently had surgery and I assume she was shaved on her abdomine, is it possible that the "bruising" you're seeing is dark hair re-growing that just hasn't popped through the skin yet? -Melissa __________________________________ http://members.aol.com/NYCFerrets http://home.att.net/~The_Ferrets __________________________________ 5. Reply: Casodex (bicalutamide) Date sent: Wed, 28 Jun 2000 21:01:20 EDT From: AFERRETVET@cs.com Casodex is an androgen antagonist that blocks the adrogen receptors on the prostate. Casodex can be used with Lupron in male ferrets with prostatic enlargement. Casodex comes in a 50 mg tablet, and it is used at a dose of 5mg/kg orally once a day. A compounding pharmacist can make it into a flavored liquid form. Jerry Murray, DVM ----------------------- End of FAIML #438 -------------------------