This is Susie Lee with The Ferret And Dove Sanctuary, Inc. in
Pensacola, Florida here's our so-far list in regards to adrenal
disease-cancer treatments.... Operations 5, ferrets Zero (all died
within two WEEKS after operations, the one who lived two weeks
spent his entire post-op WITH the veterinarian who performed the
laser-surgery operation on both enlarged adrenal glands of that ferret,
this vet went above and beyond for the animals' sake but before two
weeks slid by, that ferret slid through the veil to the Bridge,
((different vets, too))

Lupron shots, 15 ferrets, survivors lived average two to three years on
Lupron, although only 7 of the Lupron-injected ferrets regained fur and
a comfortable appearing mein.

Melatonin Implants 26, and so far *ALL 26* ferrets who have received
the melatonin implants are not only still alive, but ALL of them have
shown fur re-growth, a cessation of 'always being overheated', and
calmed down from their former perpetual adrenal-highs...in other words
became ferrets who were comfortable within their own skins once more.
The longest surviving ferrets post their original melatonin implants
are going on their third years, now, and, like Coco Chanel who is now
7 years old, or even Squeaky CreamSable who is 11 years old, appear
healthier and better than they have ever been. They each are out and
(for all their ages,) BOUNCE and run and play just like youngsters,
even though, also due to their ages, for less longer at a time than
the actual youngster-ferrets.

We like to see the furkids be able to live their lives in comfort,
that's our own creed...so that the melatonin implants have proven to us
that they're the way to go for SHELTER ferrets who're VERY often turned
in already in somewhat extreme displays of adrenal symptoms so that
neither the former owner, nor certainly ourselves could begin to guess
just how long the ferrets turned in have had adrenal disease symptoms.
In the case of an alert private owner, who notices the early onset
symptoms and has their ferret(s) Tennessee panel tested at their vet's,
then I would venture to say that an operation may be their better
choice.

No way can I tell you or anyone what's the best things to do, for that
decision is only between yourself and your veterinarian(s). But I'm
showing you our shelters' so-far statistics to suggest that in the
shelters' cases, it would seem that the melatonin implants are the best
choices.

[Posted in FML 5772]