From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Sunday, July 09, 2000 4:27 AM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Cc: faiml@uswest.net Subject: FAIML #442; July 9, 2000 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #442; July 9, 2000 There are seven messages: New adrenal case - maybe? Prostate Swelling adrenal surgery Sammy at the Bridge and The F.L.O. Regarding Prednisone Brewers Yeast Norwegian ferrets FERRET ADRENAL/INSULINOMA MAILING LIST (FAIML) is a list featuring support and information about adrenal and insulinoma diseases. It comes out in digest format three to six times per week, depending on the urgency and number of posts. It is the opinion, only, of subscribers, and is not intended as 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 exhibiting signs of illness please take him or her to the most ferret-experienced vet you can. A ferret-experienced vet is one of the most important services you can provide for 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 and FAIML ARCHIVES/PHOTOS: For more info, check out Michael Janke's adrenal/insulinoma web site: . Past FAIMLs are archived there, with a search feature, and Michael is kindly posting pictures of FAIML subscribers and their ferrets in a FAIML Album. FERRET CENTRAL WEBSITE and PAM GREENE's FERRET FAQs: Ferret Central Website is the grand intersection of ferret websites, at . You can also find the Ferret FAQs there, which include invaluable FAQs on insulinoma and adrenal diseases. I forward these two FAQs 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. 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. New adrenal case - maybe? Date sent: Fri, 7 Jul 2000 21:51:59 EDT From: GRFerrets@aol.com Hi, I rarely post since my only adrenal case has recovered so well since surgery and I've had no problems since.......until now. I run a very small rescue. I currently have 9 ferrets in the house including the rescues. My most recent rescue is a female, will be 3 years old in August and came from a neglectful situation. She was poorly fed and still has quite a bit of weight to gain before I'd call her healthy. She is now losing hair on her tail and in patches on her back (one spot on either side of her spine). The patches on her back are not connected to her tail and you really have to look to find them because the rest of her fur lays nicely over the bald patches. The patches are about 1/2 inch by 1 1/2 inches. She is currently eating TF and getting time out of the cage daily. Any suggestions of what this could be other than adrenal? Thank you!! Kim Prostate Swelling Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2000 20:24:59 -0700 From: "Linda Knights" Question - Prostate Swelling.... I have a little boy (Nickie) - he's about 5 - who has had serious medical problems all his life and was on prednisone for years and years. Recently (within the last 6 months) he has been able to taper off of it (took nearly 6 months to get him off it). About 1.5 years ago he started showing signs of adrenal cancer (loss of hair, bad muscle tone in rear legs, itchy skin). Our vet and 2 others felt he wasn't a surgical candidate due to his other medical problems. We gave him a lupron injection (one - 3 week dose) and he seemed to respond marginally. My question is what would be the signs of swelling in prostate. Within the last couple weeks he has had his stools get increasingly thin (like they are being squeezed through a smaller opening). He has had occasional emesis but nothing consistent. Otherwise he is doing fine. He is still not a candidate for surgery but I was wondering if this could be a prostate issue and if Lupron (a 4 month dose) would likely help. Any opinions? Linda K (and 14 fuzzy little friends) adrenal surgery Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2000 11:22:51 -0700 (PDT) From: "Mary McCarty - Houser" Hi Amy, Regarding your ferret, BJ's, surgery. Even though the adrenal glands "looked" okay, did your vet cut into the gland? I've spoken with vets (Dr. Weiss being one of them) who are adament that even though the gland "looks" okay, it can still be bad inside and at the very least, the left gland should be removed. I'm guessing that might be what is happening in your case. All the symptoms fit that it is adrenal disease and I've had it happen to me before, so I believe it. Good luck with your baby! Mary ===== Mary McCarty-Houser, Director Pennsylvania Ferret Rescue Association of Centre County http://www.ferretrescue.com http://www.iGive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=9903&mid=114508 Sammy at the Bridge and The F.L.O. Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2000 22:49:21 -0500 From: "Marge" Organization: Spoiled Ferret Shelter The vet said the polyp in his ear canal was lying on the ear drum and was ulcerated. I am seriously considering having each kid ex-rayed at the age of 4 to see what tumors are developing. I found out that Sammy wanted to join his girl friend Misty, who left for the bridge 2 weeks ago. And it is rumored that Sammy, Little Timmy. Blondie and the others from the horrible "Robbins Nest" are trying to organize a contingent of the F.L.O. at the Bridge. They have to humans there to help them, Bob Martin out of Virginia and Karen Yankovec (unexpected early crossing) from Milwaukee, WI to help them organize the efforts. It is said they are waiting for their confirmation from Capt. Case before taking final action, which may account for the unstable weather I've had here lately. Margie + 17 Missing Sammy and her heart. Sammy heaven is yours enjoy it. Regarding Prednisone Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2000 20:10:46 -0400 From: "Andrea J Miralia" My 7 1/2 year old ferret Benny is on Prednisone, though I wish he didn't have to be. Prednisone has the bad side effect of suppressing the immune system, and because of this (probably), Benny developed UTIs and yeast infections. (He is already prone to UTIs because he had a blocked bladder a few years ago and has an additional urinary opening now, created through surgery.) Anyway, Pred regulates the blood sugar (or regulates the release of insulin, I'm not sure which) and also suppresses the growth of Benny's possible Lympho. Benny has had surgery also for adrenal tumors, so he actually has all three major ferret cancers... But he's doing fine (considering) and is recovering nicely from his blocked urethra (enlarged prostate) from last week. -------------------------------------------------- Andréa -- moonferret@hotmail.com -- http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Film/1630/index.html Brewers Yeast Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2000 11:42:13 -0400 From: ela.heyn@db.comBrewer's yeast You can find brewer's yeast at GNC or other health food stores. Some pet supply places online/pet supply catalogs (like Jeffers) have it, too. I think it might be stretching it to say it will "prevent" insulinoma. However, it does help to stabilize glucose levels, and is a good nutritional supplement. - Ela Ela Heyn Harborside Mail Stop 3024 201-860-3336 ela.heyn@db.com Norwegian ferrets Date: Fri, 07 Jul 2000 08:59:56 CEST From: "Thone ." Wish you all a great summer, have not been active on the list, but I do read it and learn, thanks a lot. Thone, Mercedes, Josefine, Cosmo and Prince Nicklas (Make sure you take a good look at the attaced photo, real big ferrets in Norway, isn't it, lol.?) WHAT DOES NOT DESTROY ME, MAKES ME STRONGER. Nietzsche FOUR NORWEGIAN FERRETS, FOUR TIMES AS MUCH FUN! http://msnhomepages.talkcity.com/VolunteerSt/thonehal/ A friendly place to talk about ferrets: FERRETS AROUND THE CLOCK http://members.boardhost.com/Thone/ My new add...a page for ferret friends, please go see for yourself: http://communities.msn.com/MyNorwegianFerretFamily ----------------------- End of FAIML #442 -------------------------