Here's some info to help you get going.
Jeff
In Memory of Trinny, Neo, Pip, Mr. Parker, and Possum the Million
Dollar Ferret
Caring for Morphy, Baby Girl, Luna, Dozer, Sabrina, Minnie Mouse, and
Pop
Good link to article about Deslorelin:
<http://www.smallanimalchannel.com/ferrets/ferret-health/new-hope-for-ferrets-with-adrenal-gland-disease.aspx>
Contact info for company where you would buy it:
Peptech Animal Health Pty. Limited
19 - 25 Khartoum Rd.
Macquarie Par, New South Wales, 2113
Australia
http://www.peptech.com/HTML/Animal_Health/Animal_Health.html
or it might help to contact the European distributor:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL9888
Two abstracts:
Deslorelin treatment of hyperoestrogenism in neutered ferrets (Mustela
putorius furo): a case report
A. Prohaczik, M. Kulcsar, Gy. Huszenicza Faculty of Veterinary Science,
Szent Istvan University, Budapest, Hungary
ABSTRACT: Hyperoestrogenism causing progressive alopecia in neutered
ferrets may be induced by ovarian remnant syndrome (ORS) and nodular
hyperplasia of the adrenocortex (hyperadrenocorticism, NHA). The
objective of the study was to determine whether a slow-release implant
of a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue, deslorelin, has
any value in therapy of hyperoestrogenism of adrenocortical origin
(NHA). Three sup- posed cases of NHA with alopecia and other clinical
signs of hyperoestrogenism (n = 2 spayed females in oestrous and n = 1
castrated male) were treated with a subcutaneous implant of 4.7 mg
deslorelin acetate. Blood samples were collected, and plasma levels
of estradiol (E2) were determined just before, and some weeks after
treatment. For realistic monitoring, blood samples for E2 determination
were also taken from intact, healthy (untreated control) females after
the beginning of heat (n = 5), or 9-21 days after, with hCG induced
ovulation (n = 6), or out of breeding season (n = 3). Before treatment,
all three alopecic ferrets showed elevated E2 concentrations
(99.45-139.9 pmol/l) similar to the untreated control females in
oestrous (61.6-123.02 pmol/l) (P 0.229). Some weeks after the
deslorelin administration, the hair of these ferrets began to grow
again and the elevated E2 concentrations significantly decreased
compared to the pre-treatment values (P 0.035). E2 concentrations
reached the basal level (12.89-16.08 pmol/l) typical for that of the
untreated control females in anoestrus or in luteal phase (12.0-30.58
pmol/l) (P = 0.137). All treated ferrets were examined again 19-21
months after implant insertion (the implant still being present) and
all of them had normal hair and were clinically healthy. These
observations prove that deslorelin can suppress the E2 production
of NHA, and is therefore a useful tool in the therapy of hormonal
alopecia neutered ferrets.
Keywords: deslorelin; GnRH analogue; estradiol; hyperadrenocorticism
The Treatment of Adrenal Cortical Disease in Ferrets with 4.7-mg
Deslorelin Acetate Implants
Robert A. Wagner, VMD, Mark R. Finkler, DVM, Kellie A. Fecteau, PhD,
and Tim E. Trigg, PhD
Abstract Thirty pet ferrets with adrenocortical disease (ACD) of
varying severity and duration were evaluated for response to a single
administration of a slow release 4.7 mg deslorelin acetate implant.
Clinical response to deslorelin was monitored via a physical
examination performed every 3 to 4 months. Adrenal ultrasound
measurements were taken every 3-4 months until clinical relapse. At
clinical relapse, duration of symptom suppression and adrenal size and
growth were determined. Administration of a single 4.7 mg implant of
deslorelin acetate resulted in significant decreases in the clinical
signs and hormonal concentrations associated with ACD. Within 14 days
post-implant, vulvar swelling, pruritus, sexual behaviors and
aggression decreased or disappeared. Hair re-growth was evident by 4-6
weeks post implant. Within two months post deslorelin implant, plasma
concentrations of steroid hormones decreased: mean estradiol
concentration decreased 28%; 17 hydroxyprogesterone levels decreased
89% and androstenedione levels decreased 88%. The response to a single
4.7 mg implant of deslorelin acetate was transitory. The mean SD time
to recurrence of clinical signs was 17.6 5.0 months (range,
8.0-30.0 months). Repeated ultrasound measurements revealed no
statistical difference in size of the adrenals (right or left) before,
during the months of deslorelin implant and at clinical relapse. Slow
release 4.7 mg deslorelin implants can effectively be used to
temporarily eliminate the clinical signs and reduce steroid hormone
concentrations in ferrets with ACD. This dose of deslorelin does appear
to influence adrenal tumor growth causing a decrease in adrenal size in
some ferrets, and mild enlargement of adrenal glands in most ferrets
with 2 of 30 implanted animals developing large tumors before clinical
relapse. The long-term effect of treatment with deslorelin on adrenal
tumor pathology requires additional investigation. At this time,
surgical removal of the adrenal tumor remains the only curative
treatment; however, 4.7 mg deslorelin implants are useful in the
long-term management of ACD hormone-induced sequelae and may be as
effective assurgical management.
Copyright 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Key words: ferret; adrenocortical disease; adrenal tumor growth;
hyperadrenocorticism
[Posted in FML 6663]
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