Hi.  Thank you to Dr. Williams for the good explanation on the FML of vena
cava ligation.  Dr. Williams, I am reading your medical posts regularly and
saving some in appropriately labeled files for future reference for myself
and my vet.
 
I wanted to add one thing that my vet has found helpful in vena cava
ligation, and also a comment about one of my fur kids who has been through
this and is doing wonderfully.  My vet, if she thinks she may need to
ligate the vena cava, gently squeezes it shut for a short time and watches
the reactions of the organs and respiration.  She has stated this simple
technique, which she heard of from Dr. Weiss, has been a real key help in
determining if the ferret is a candidate for successful ligation.
 
Our very first ferret, Gadzook, was a candidate for ligation due to an
invasive right adrenal tumor, as Dr. Williams so well described in his post
of Nov. 23.  Gadzook had both adrenals removed and the vena cava ligated.
He has done wonderfully, being both fully furred and having lots of energy.
He had this procedure done when he was a little over six (July before
last).  He does need to have a minimal dose of florinef, a quarter tablet,
every other second and third days (we watched him closely after surgery
and began this a couple days out).  Blood tests have confirmed that his
potassium and sodium are in balance.  I personally am a firm believer
in surgery as the best option for adrenal disease, when a ferret is a
candidate, and the only option that offers a cure, though the disease still
has a high rate of occurence due to the regenerative nature of adrenal
tissue.  Gadzee, unfortunately, recently began a low dose of pediapred for
insulinoma, so surgery for this is probably in the offing.  I'm grateful
that he hasn't shown signs of adrenal, though, as he was one with prostate
problems.
 
Anyway, I'm grateful to have on the FML Dr. Williams, the most experienced
ferret pathologist I know of and a professional who somehow manages,
amazingly, to make himself available to ferret caretakers dispite a
busy schedule.  I'm also looking forward to Michaela becoming a
ferret-experienced vet and sure wish she'd consider moving to Seattle where
we need more such vets!
 
Just FYI, I'm still moderating the Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing List
(FAIML) which sits steadily around 500 subscribers, and comes about about
three times a week.  Feel free to drop me a line if you'd like to be added.
 
Lynn and five sweet fur slinkies
[Posted in FML issue 3248]