I didn't catch the tv segment on Dr. Weiss' study, but the AFA has
published in its latest American Ferret Report (mailing within a week or
so, members) a summary of the study (not discussing the particular drugs or
any detailed results but about the possibilities medical treatment gives
adrenal ferrets).  Based on my discussions with Dr. Weiss, I don't think
it's fair to say that these drugs make it so that adrenal surgery isn't
needed anymore.  I believe that Dr. Weiss would say that surgery is still
the preferred treatment in most cases.  Medical treatment is mostly for
ferrets who are not good surgical candidates because of age or concurrent
illness.  The drugs may also be useful in reducing adrenal disease symptoms
so that a ferret gains some muscle mass and weight in preparation for
surgery.
 
I know that ferrets belonging to several folks on this list are part of the
study, and I know that other people on this list have also spoken to Dr.
Weiss, so they may have some additional comments.  I've been given the
impression from people involved that the drugs seem to be reducing symptoms
and improving the quality of life for their ferrets.  I don't think any
statements can be made about the long-term use of the drugs or disease
status of these ferrets until Dr. Weiss publishes the statistical analysis
of the data, and this could be some time.  Good science and medical
publishing are slow, exacting businesses, but we all benefit from the
thoughtful analysis of such important information.
 
I will try to see that the AFR article is posted on the AFA Web site
quickly: www.ferret.org.
 
 -----------------
Taking off my AFR hat and speaking just as a ferret owner and client of Dr.
Weiss' (full disclosure, here), I am completely unwilling to discuss drug
names, dosages (even if I knew them), or any statistical results (again, if
I knew them) from this study, so please don't ask.  Dr. Weiss will probably
want to publish this research in a veterinary journal and he is owed the
professional courtesy of allowing this study to be peer-reviewed by other
veterinarians selected by the publisher he chooses before releasing the
data.  If he wants to release this information prior to publication, this
is between him and the publisher.  Other folks who have a lot of
information on this study should also show some restraint until getting
clearance from Dr. Weiss (I work for a human medical journal and have seen
instances where journals don't want to accept something that's been talked
to death already).  I'm certainly not advocating silence here, but
professional courtesy.
 
I know that news of this treatment is bitter sweet for so many of us who
have lost ferrets to adrenal disease.  I challenge each of you to make a
contribution to this study, to a shelter whose ferrets are in this study,
or to any vet or shelter that is working to find, if not a cure, an
alternate treatment for this disease.  After two surgeries and lysodren, my
Azrael never regrew a single hair.  When he was put to sleep, he was thin
and naked, with red, itchy sores.  He couldn't get to a litter box four
feet away from his bed without losing control of his bowels.  He couldn't
climb or jump.  He could barely see or sniff.  His body was so worn out
that it is very likely that the anesthesia before the mercy shot killed
him.  I kept him too long, hoping for a miracle.  All the money in the
world at the time couldn't have saved Azrael.  A few well placed dollars
now can go a long way toward finding a treatment (note that I did not say
cure) and getting this information out to vets around the world.  Everyone
will benefit.  Not just Dr. Weiss' clients, not just people who belong to
ferret organizations, not just breeders, not just shelters.  You and your
perfectly average, run of the mill, slightly musky, miss the litter box,
four-legged joy of life will benefit.
[Posted in FML issue 2605]