Dr. Charles Weiss is currently conducting clinical trials using medicine
to treat adrenal tumors on ferrets who are not good surgical candidates
because of age, other illnesses, or other reasons (including lack of
funds).  Results are already promising, and the medicines are very safe.
For a short time Dr. Weiss will be accepting ferrets into this study.  If
you have adrenal ferrets (or suspect ferrets of having adrenal disease),
and can come to Maryland for an initial visit and follow-up 3-4 weeks
later, and are willing to keep in touch with Dr. Weiss and keep notes, you
can contact him about being included in the study.  The Tennessee Panel
(the blood test that helps diagnose adrenal tumors) will be done at no
charge, and treatment would be substantially subsidized, primarily by Dr.
Weiss.  The cost would be approximately $10-15 per office visit or month (I
forget which, sorry).  If results continue to be good, in a few months the
medicines and doses will be discussed publicly; until then information will
be limited to study participants.
 
I know it's a very busy time of year, but ferret parents from Maryland,
Virginia, Delaware and Pennsylvania may want to take heed.  This may well
be worth a day's drive down New York or New Jersey, or other surrounding
states I'm forgetting.
 
By the way, surgery is generally Dr. Weiss' first choice for adrenal
tumors, but there are times that it cannot be done.  Our Miska the #1
Ferret may have adrenal disease.  The only symptom?  Dr. Weiss noticed
today that her skin is a little shiny under her fur on her back (the fur
itself is thick), and the fur on her front paws may be a little sparse.  As
much as I believe surgery is the way to go for adrenal tumors, insulinoma,
etc., Miska is an example of a ferret who would not be a good candidate for
surgery, since she's older, has had insulinoma since 1995, has had several
surgeries, and has been on pediapred for a while.  She would have to be
weaned off the pediapred before surgery (pred interferes with healing),
and that's not advisable for her at this stage in her illness (although
she *tells* me she feels great and her blood glucose was 108 today).
 
Dr. Weiss' phone number is (301) 299-4142, EST.  Pass the word.
[Posted in FML issue 2512]