From: Lynn McIntosh [faiml@uswest.net] Sent: Saturday, September 02, 2000 7:24 PM To: FAIMLanon; FAIML Cc: faiml@uswest.net Subject: FAIML #458; Sept. 2, 2000 (urgent) Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List (FAIML) #458; Sept. 2, 2000 There are five messages in today's list: Very Quick up date on Oh No Odo (urgent) Please post. Natalie has symptoms of???????????? docp vs florinef Quality of Life Quality of Life Question 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. 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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: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 16:33:36 -0500 From: "Marge" Very Quick up date on Oh No Odo The vet's visit showed an upper respiratory infection. He got 100 cc of Ringers immediately. He is on Amoxi. I am feeding him hourly since he will eat liquid. His body strength is not there. Again, I am asking for inputs on any additional ways to deal with the URI. WE DID NOT do a blood glucose due to extreme weakened condition. Margie Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 01:01:25 EDT From: Rikkie2000@aol.com Please post. Natalie has symptoms of???????????? I have a rescued ferret with a swollen vulva, and a beautiful full coat and tail. She has had this for at least 2 years prior to my taking her in. The boys are always after her (they are fixed) and she is very aggressive. She is a MF ferret. Could it be that she is not spayed? Thanks for any input. Date: Fri, 1 Sep 2000 23:53:28 -0400 From: "Celia C." docp vs florinef Hi, My girl takes florinef (and prednisone) daily. So far I've had good results. I have it compounded so she loves to take it. (I've never been able to get her to take a pill). I vaguely remember reading somewhere that "better control" may be achieved with docp (I'm sure this was for dogs, not ferrets), but for over a year we've had no problem with florinef. She did recently have a slightly elevated potassium level and so we increased her florinef slightly. I have wondered about docp, though. I think I'd be afraid of not being able to fine tune the dose easily. I don't know how it actually works for so long (that'd be a great thing to know), but I'd also worry that it would "wear off" before her next one was due. I mean, how do you know exactly how many days? Could she get too much if she's given the new shot and she still has some "left over" from the last one? (My medical speak is great, huh?) Then again, I'm a great one for worry. I'd love to hear from someone who has used docp successfully!! Good luck, Celia Date: Sat, 02 Sep 2000 08:56:37 -0400 From: "katharine" Quality of Life I truly believe that no one can tell you how to judge when it's "time". It's something you know in your heart. It can't be taught or learned...you just know. When I took Lily to have her euthanized in March (lymphoma), I knew it was time. I have never had one moment of regret about my decision. It was the right thing for her and I knew it. Fortunately, her vet agreed one hundred percent. Just yesterday, I took Blaze in because she began losing weight rapidly. Within four hours, we went from her playing at home, to an x-ray, to surgery, to a decision not to wake her up. She was riddled with cancer. There was no way to remove it. There was no point in bringing her home only to watch her slowly (quickly) die and lose her quality of life. I took Champ (Blaze's brother) and Lany in for us to see her one last time. It also wasn't a hard decision to make, though extremely shocking. I still haven't come to terms with the whole thing. Just two months ago, she passed a physical with flying colors. So, all I can say to you is to follow your heart. Don't let others influence your decision. Make it on your own after educating yourself. Once you make that final decision, you want to feel good about it. Katharine Date: Sat, 2 Sep 2000 00:42:33 EDT From: WhyNotFert@aol.com Quality of Life Question In a message dated 9/1/00 7:56:44 PM Mountain Daylight Time, faiml@uswest.net writes: > From: "Marge" > Input wanted on quality of life and how you would handle it > > I am looking for YOUR INPUT as to how if he were your ferret > (or if you've had one in similar circumstances) you judge > the quality of life, and how to proceed. > > I realize everyone is different and that is why I am going to you for your > inputs. > I am in need of ideas of how to proceed. > > In your debt, > Margie Hi - This is just IMO - if he were my own ferret. If he'll eat on his own when you put duck soup in the cage, or when you offer it, I'd keep going with him for at least a little while. Have his glucose checked - put him on pred if it's indicated - or whatever other treatment seems *reasonable* based on what you find with the glucose and/or other tests you run. See whether that improves his activity level, his appetite, or his attitude during the following couple of weeks. If there's any improvement in any one (or all three) of those areas, I would say it's not time to let him go just yet. If there's no improvement at all, then it probably is time. Personally, I wouldn't go with "heroic measures" at this time - not unless you see dramatic improvement in him after basic treatment. You may not see seizures with insulinoma - sometimes all you'll see is the ferret "slowing down" a great deal. My Gaoth hasn't had a true seizure in a long time - but I can tell when I need to adjust her pred or her diet, because she starts sleeping more and eating less. And Charlie, a male I'm "sitting" right now, was just slowing down, sleeping a lot, and "showing his age." He's almost 8 years old now. I had his glucose checked (it was low), and he's been on Pred and Gravy for the last 2 weeks. The change in his attitude and activity level is noticeable. He doesn't act like a 2 year old but he's certainly got a good bit of fun left in him. Hope this helps - I know how hard the decision can be at times like this. Carla Smith <>< WhyNot? Ferrets http://www.whynotferrets.com ICQ: 29478475 member, Rio Grande Domestic Ferret Club, El Paso, TX "Every pet deserves to be loved, and to have someone cry over them when they're gone." ----------------------- End of FAIML #458 -------------------------