Hi Everybody,
 
I am still searching for the right thing to do for my ferrets.  I posted
this a few days ago on the FML and had no responses with the exception of
the lovely Sukie.  Thank you Sukie!
 
Two ferrets
 
1) Fuzzy, 1390 grams, regular weight 1000 grams, age 5 years, male, MF,
adrenal signs for over 1.5 years (on Melatonin {3 implants} and Lupron
{2 shots} ) grew all his hair back.
 
Insulinoma 3 months now (by low BG) is on Prednisolone .4cc of the 15
mg/5ml.  BG is staying at 110-120 feels good but has gained 400 grams
and is so fat he is not moving very fast anymore.
 
Duck soup (1 can AD/1 jar gerbers meat/14 oz. natural gold/
3 cooked eggs/2 tablespoons dry Uncle Jims duck soup/ with water blended
to a heavy soup) 3 oz twice a day.
 
2) Diablo, 1000 grams, down from 1240, age 5+ years, male, MF, adrenal
4 months (on Melatonin and Lupron)hasn't grown much if any hair back, but
it might be too early as he has only had one Lupron and one Melatonin.
 
Insulinoma, 9 months (by low BG) is on Prednisolone .4cc of the 15
mg/5ml.  BG is staying at 55 doesn't feel good.  Given 2.5- 3 oz of the
same Duck Soup as above twice a day.  Now he is grinding his teeth.  He
was on Pred early on and got so heavy and miserable was taken off and
maintained with diet for 6 months, now he is back on the meds.
 
I feed half the soup then give the Pred mixed with ferretone then feed
the other half of the soup.
 
I really thought both of these guys needed surgery, Perhaps a partial
pancreotomy and the adrenals addressed.  But when I called the vet (not
their regular vet) that I wanted to do the surgery they said no.  They
said at their ages the recovery would be way to hard and long.  Basically
said you are doing a good job keep it up.  While I liked the pat on back,
I am not sure I like the advice.  I was going to drive almost 1800 miles
to take them there because they came so highly recommended and (also)
because the cost was reasonable compared to how expensive the surgery
would be where I am located.  My last 3 surgeries ended in death and that
is what I was trying to prevent by going somewhere else.  Survival rate.
 
Please give me some advice.  Anyone have a vet they would recommend I
talk to?  Go to?  Any vets want to jump in here?  I live on the west
coast and was going to San AntonioTexas so I am open to ideas.  I know
that no vet can promise that they survive a surgery but at 0 for 3 I
have to try and go somewhere, or do I?
 
Have I already recieved the best advice?  Please help.  Those of you
that had the surgery for both at the same time, is the recovery really
so miserable.  You can email me off list at [log in to unmask] or you
can try the hotmail address but somethings haven't gotten through and I
would hate to lose your post.
 
thanks all,
Mary Jo
[Posted in FML issue 5234]