From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2000 2:07 PM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Cc: faiml@uswest.net Subject: FAIML #456; Aug. 27, 2000 Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #456; Aug. 27, 2000 There are eight messages in today's list: behavior changes missy's tail florinef vs DOCP melatonin post Rascal & what to expect with insulinoma Re: FAIML #455; Aug. 23, 2000 - Urgent Post Re: FAIML #455; Aug. 23, 2000 - Urgent Post Ferret Symposium in Canada 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 there is a FAIML album featuring pictures of FAIML subscribers and their ferrets. 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. Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 21:41:07 -0700 From: "Deborah Magerr" behavior changes Sid was recently diagnosed with an enlarged heart and put on Lasix. After losing most of the fluid in his belly, we put him on pred because cancer cells were found in the fluid. His behavior has changed drastically. I was wondering if this is normal and if there is anything I can do. He used to be very passive. Now he bites on the cage so I let him out & pushes all his bowls over and acts kind of frantic when he comes out. Im glad he has more energy but he's never acted like this before. He is around 6yrs old. He has no signs of adrenal problems, but I understand they don't always show signs. Debbie & Sid Remembering Punky & Nancy... ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others! Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 21:26:38 -0700 From: dagger4u@home.com missy's tail I haven't posted in a long time, but do read the emails often. I have noticed that my 2 year old female, Missy, has lost hair on the underside of her tail. The top of her tail, from the tip to the back end is fine. The loss is only on the bottom of her tail as if she had been dragging it on the ground or something. she is eating fine, and acting normal. sleeping, drinking ok. Vaccines are up to date. Not sure if i am making too much of it or not. Any suggestions might help. Thanks, Kim and her furry bunch of 6 Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2000 11:04:50 -0400 From: "Linda Iroff" florinef vs DOCP Caruso is recovering nicely from adrenal surgery last week to remove his right adrenal. The left was removed in January. The vet said he was "cocky" that he removed the entire right adrenal, so Caruso may need hormonal supplements. In a week or so he'll check potassium levels to see if it's needed. He mentioned 2 drugs that may be used, florinef and an injectable, which from reading archived FAIMLs, I assume is DOCP (desoxycorticosterone pivalate), trade name Percorten-V. Florinef is given daily, the injections about every 25 days. Does anyone know anything about the relative merits of the two drugs other than the convenience/inconvenience of daily oral drugs vs monthly injections? Are there potential side effects? Caruso also had about 30% of his pancreas removed in the latest surgery. He is currently on .7 cc Pediapred (6.75 ml/5ml) twice a day. I hope to very slowly try weaning him off it. Any experiences anyone can tell me about these drugs would be most appreciated. Linda Iroff Oberlin OH Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 10:33:24 -0400 From: "Hey Hey Hey" melatonin post Hey All, Have been reading some on this list and some other places about the use of melatonin in ferrets. I have an insulinomic ferret Noble who also has heart issues (CHF) And an adrenal boy ( the vet says to early to operate). Will melatonin help either of these guys. What is it used for? Is it used like rescurers remedy as a calming agent? Fer8happy, Karen Date: Fri, 25 Aug 2000 10:46:06 EDT From: JHerge9760@aol.com Rascal & what to expect with insulinoma I was told that the dribbling and the dragging of the back legs were major signs of insulinoma in the later stages. One of my girls has it and I asked what the symptoms were. Those were some of the observable ones. If you haven't already tried - would ask the vet to do a BG check. My girl's was done to the 60's when i noticed her spacing and drooling like crazy. I rushed her right into the vet and they knew exactly what it was. This was in March. They removed they tumored half of her pancreas and she is on Pred (0.5 cc once a day). Her latest BG check was 128 (which is exceptional) and I was told not to change anything in her diet. With the exception to not give her any fruits such as the raisins in her ferret treat. This little girl has been through more than any other ferret my vet has seen and is still strong as ever. She is four years old, been through 4 surgeries, has insulinoma cancer, and was even stuck in the house heating system for 3 hours and came out fine. They told me these ferrets ususllay only live a year after the surgery, but she shows no signs of slowing down. My vet is amazed. Not me though. I know she will be here for a long time. Stephanie and the babes - Keegan (this sicky mentioned above), Kayla, Maya, and Max Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 19:05:17 EDT From: Cjbandit@aol.com Re: FAIML #455; Aug. 23, 2000 - Urgent Post Hi, I could understand your concerns being that her twin had insulinoma but definitely get an accurate reading the second time around. When Bandit had two low readings I was somewhat suspicious because prior to the two readings which were a month a part his BG was in normal range. If you can you should do a fasting BG even if its just two hour fast because you don't to send her into a seizure, the second thing is make sure they do the reading on site-if it sits to long before they send it to the lab it could alter the result. In the interim protein, protein, protein will help balance out the blood sugar- babyfood every (2-3) hours mixed with a few drops of linetone will help a lot. PS Bandit had adrenal surgery back in April and the Dr. check out his pancreas there was no sign of insulinoma and his BG is fine. Sometimes readings fluctuate-that was the case with Bandit. Most of the time unfortunately this is not the case. Let me know how you make out and Good Luck Christina & Bandit Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 19:30:58 EDT From: Cjbandit@aol.com Re: FAIML #455; Aug. 23, 2000 - Urgent Post Hi Lynn, I hope all works out with your adrenal boy- I know your contemplating bilateral removal as you mentioned you had some problems with that surgery in the past. I just wanted you to know Bandit had both adrenals removed, well actually one was froze (the right) and the left removed. He's like a different ferret now I have never known him to be nearly this active, and his appetite great everything looks good (knock on wood)- anyway when you said bilateral did they remove both in the past on your girls or did they DE-bulk one and remove the other??? Well, I know you will make the right decision, just wanted to share my experience with you. Oh by the way I should mention Dr. Weiss was the one that did the surgery. Bye for now, Christina & Bandit Date: Wed, 23 Aug 2000 14:06:28 -0500 From: teckart@oznet.ksu.edu Ferret Symposium in Canada Hi Lynn - Is it o.k. to post this here? I thought maybe there will be some on your list that aren't on the FML and may not know about the symposium. BTW. Both boys are doing well. :-) Hi everyone. Just spoke with Randy from the Ferret Aid Society. She said they’ve had a few cancellations from people attending the Ferrets 2000 symposium. This means there are a few spots open for anyone else wishing to attend. It will be an exciting opportunity to meet and listen to ferret celebrities like Dr. Williams (Armed Forces Institute of Telepathology), Dr. Willard (Performance Foods), BIG (FML), Bob Church (if I wasn’t already a speaker I’d sure want to go to hear these speakers) and so many more interesting and ferret knowledgeable people. >From what I understand, there may be a few surprises in store too! The symposium starts on September 15 with a trip to the Toronto zoo to see the black footed ferret display, then you are free to explore the zoo or/and see the sites in Toronto. On Saturday Dr. Williams, Dr. Willard, and Bob Church will be speaking. Then on Sunday morning, Randy and I will be speaking. You are welcome to sign up for whatever day(s) you’d like to attend. Saturdays line-up is one you won’t want to miss! And the hotel accommodations sound absolutely dreamy. Take a weekend vacation and learn tons about ferrets too! If you are interested in attending or would like more information, please visit http://www.ferretaid.org/ferrets2000.html Registration fees are due by Sep 1. Hugs to all. tle Troy Lynn Eckart Ferret Family Services http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~sprite/ffs.html http://www.geocities.com/Petsburgh/Haven/5481/ Please sign up to support our charity http://www.iGive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=46&mid=58395 ----------------------- End of FAIML #456 -------------------------