There recently has been two confirmed cases of Insulinoma in ferrets in
Western Australia.
One ferret had been suffering from seizures for about a year (the owner was
urged to do a fasting blood glucose test, but never did it). Recently, the
ferret went into a coma and died. The vet did a necropsy on the ferret
(this was the vet that I use) and there were several pancreatic tumours
sighted. The ferret was female, but I am unaware of her age or if she
was desexed.
The other ferret is a male - desexed (late alter) - of 6 years of age. His
owner is very attentive and rushed him in for tested when it was noticed
the ferret was wobbly on his hind end. A fasting blood glucose test
confirmed the diagnosis. This ferret will start on Pred.
It is thought that diseases such as Insulinoma or Adrenal are not found
frequently in Australia - particularly in Western Australia. However - I
am starting to wonder. I have heard of 3 other cases in the past year.
[Posted in FML issue 3322]