**The advice dispensed by myself in reference to FML postings is not meant
to supplant the advice of veterinarians who are in charge of the patient.
If the patient is not currently under the care of a veterinarian, the client
is recommended to take their ferret to one.**
 
>From:    Cathy Foley <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: NEED MORE ADVICE
 
Recent impressions by veterinarians is that even large pancreatic tumors
have already spread to the rest of the pancreas microscopically.  Removing
the large tumor may bring temporary relief but is NOT a cure.  The
microscopically spread tumors will grow up and start over secreting insulin
also.  If you have not added prednisone to the Proglycem, I would start.  I
have no experience with any naturopathic remedies.
 
As I have mentioned before, grinding teeth is highly suggestive of stomach
ulcers (most likely due to Helicobacter bacteria).  The Helicobacter can
start causing ulcers either by themselves or secondary to some other illness
(such as an insulinoma).  I would start treating for ulcers therapeutically
(check out the appropriate FAQ).
 
>From:    The Ferretously Funky One <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Need references for giving three distemper vaccinations
 
Have the vet check out The Veterinary Clinics of North America - Small
Animal Practice" Exotic Pet Medicine II, January 1994, page 4.  Ought to be
a medical enough reference.  An older reference (1988!) by Dr. Fox
recommends two vaccines then vaccinate every three years.  That has pretty
much fallen by the wayside and your vet should follow the newer
recommendations.
 
>From:    "marie i. schatz" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Cream; vestibular disease; shelters
>Trish - did you thing I meant whipping cream as in Cool Whip?
 
Vestibular disease is number one, but any brain lesion may cause it.  The
other possibility would be some type of tumor.
 
On a side note, Dr. Brown s comment for fattening up a ferret related to the
fact that fat seems to work better than protein or carbohydrates (one of
which is sugar) .  Heavy cream, non-sweetened peanut butter, etc.  all are
possibilities to accomplish this.  Use what works for your ferret.  Some
ferrets can be lactose intolerant and have diarrhea on milk products.  If
that is the case switch to something else.  I would discourage the use of
straight oil since this can do a couple of bad things.  One is that is can
inhibit normal intestinal absorption of nutrients and vitamins, second it
can cause wicked (wicked is a term we still use in New England) diarrhea.
 
>From:    Sheena Staples <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: What could be wrong with Billy?
>My friend's early neuter Hagen ferret is having some problems that are
>potentially life threatening, and we've never seen this in a ferret before,
 
I lay odds on the polyps causing an external ear to middle ear to inner ear
infection along with associated neurological signs.  Supportive care
(especially fluid replacement) along with anti-inflammatories gave the turn
around noted.  I would suspect that there may be a concurrent disease
(insulinoma?) present to help with the rapid deterioration of the pet.
Anatomically I do not think ferrets are prone to strokes so I would put that
way low on the list.
 
>From:    Krazy Kritter <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: blood tests?
>With all the disease and such going around among ferrets, specifically ECE,
>are there any tests to find out if a ferret is a "carrier." If so what is it
 
Depending on the disease, blood tests may show something such as adrenal
disease.  Locally acting diseases such as ECE can be diagnosed on biopsies
of the intestinal tract, but the risk of anesthesia and surgery in a
symptomatic ferret to get the biopsy probably does not warrant trying to get
the biopsy.
 
>From:    Elizabeth Draus <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Vaccinations
>Chloe and Velvet need to be spayed, so I did some research and came up with
>two choices: a highly recommended vet in South Tacoma, ...
 
Vaccinate them before spaying.  If the Tacoma vet does a lot of ferrets, you
will want your gals protected against exposure to Distemper before they
visit the Hospital for the surgery.  Most of the times the musky smell of
ferrets decrease after spaying or neutering without having to resort to
having them descented.
 
>From:    "Bryan H. Hall" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Tenaka's Limping??
>For some reason known but to Tenaka, he has started limping with his front
>right paw.  I checked it out, and there is no visible damage to it, no cuts
 
Keep an eye on it for a few days. If it persists or worsens, off to the vet.
 
>From:    Cheryl Cato <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Ferret ICU?
>Ok - We did an ulrasound on Binky.  The vet apparently knew of someone who
>does them on humans and animals - and is very confident about reading them.
>We went with the ultrasound due to the long turnaround on the UT adrenal
 
Post-operatively - keep Binky warm and hydrated.  Secondily, ferrets NEED
some adrenal gland.  I would be very hesistant to remove totally both
glands.  If both are removed, both corticosteroid and mineralocorticoid
replacement need to be started and maintained lifelong.  It is in the cases
of removing one totally and removing a part of the other that steroid
replacement is not needed.
 
Mike Dutton, DVM, DABVP
Weare Animal Hospital
Weare, NH, USA
[Posted in FML issue 1759]