In response to what Lisa wrote about Stinky:
 
1.  6 or 7 years old is not necessarily too old for surgery.  My little
burnt girl had surgery just a few months ago, and the vets think that she
is AT LEAST 7 years old.
 
A full blood work up, and thorough exam, and x-rays should have been
taken.  Personally, I would not have surgery if it were my ferret for
insulinoma, as the cancer frequently grows back within months.  I would
save my money for other kinds of care for Stinky.  That is only what I
would do.
 
2. There are some excellent sites for insulinoma.  If no one else posts
where they are-maybe BIG can help you.  Sukie has a long list of very
helpful ferret medical sites.   [One of the best is
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/  BIG]
 
3. My limited understanding about insulinoma is that ferrets should not
be on a kibble diet once insulinoma is detected for optimum health.  A
good duck soup is necessary.  And giving Ferretvite in addition to the
kibble you are feeding Stinky is just going to bring on the insulinoma
more quickly.  Added to a duck soup for ferrets is one thing.  But giving
it as a major form of food is bad because of the high sugar content.
 
4. Be sure to give the prednisone faithfully in the smallest dose
recommended based on the blood tests.  And go in to monitor this every 6
months with a blood test.
 
5. Realize that Stinky may have a seizure, and know what to do to help
him when this happens.  Don't freak.  It is not complicated.
 
6. Order syringes to feed Stinky his soup until he eats it out ot a small
plate on his own.  Make sure you check the soup with your finger after you
microwave it so it is not too hot for Stinky.  The Ferret STore should
have some.  Try to get Stinky to then lick the soup off of your clean
fingers.  From there he will lick off the plate.  This could take months
for this transition.
 
**Making the soup and freezing it, defrosting it and syringing, and
reading about insulinoma and asking the FML people for help will take
time, effort, commitment, and consistency.  It may well prolongue Stinkys
life for another 3 years.  And you will learn a great deal.
 
Doing all of this will become a routine.  But it is also a wonderful
bonding.  This is where you KNOW that you are a responsible person doing
what is right.  You will feel good about yourself.  You will bond with
your little one---especially when you sit down and syringe feed slowly
your little Stinky.  The joy is not gone.  Now it deepens as you do the
next right thing for the animal you are responsible for-that little cutie
who has feelings and thoughts.
 
You will get an awful lot of help for insulinoma from us and the ferret
health list.  You will not be alone.  And everyone here, I imagine, is
grateful for the fact you care enough to write your questions here so
that Stinky can have a lot more quality time to his life.
 
Lisette
[Posted in FML issue 3656]