How much pred can get a ferret into serious trouble, or even prove
fatal will depend both on dose and on how extreme the diabetes is.
Some ferrets begin diabetes with extreme cases while others begin with
mild ones.

BTW, the for others who did not know, the difference between
Prednisolone and Prednisone:

Prednisolone is the form which can be utilized by the body.

How does Prednisone get altered to Prednisolone so that the body can
utilize it? The liver does that.

What happens if the liver is at all compromised? There is reduced
conversion so the Prednisone might be partially or even largely
ineffective.

Can this happen if the liver is just swollen (which can happen even
secondary to the pancreas having problems, IBD, a large fur ball being
in the stomach, or some other health difficulties)? Yes.

That is why most vets who are used to ferrets tend to give Prednisolone
rather than Prednisone.

If possible (and I do realize that it is not always possible), it is
always best to have a blood test done to make sure that the blood sugar
is down rather than up before giving Pred in case there is diabetes.
(If the ferret perks up with sugar on the gums that makes diabetes less
likely.) Diabetes is NOT very often seen in ferrets but it does happen.
Taking a ferret's blood sugar at home is also possible and info on
this is in the archives of both the FML and the FHL. You can find the
addresses of the FML Archives in the header of each day's FML and in my
sig lines, and the separate addresses of the FHL Archives and the FHL
in my sig lines. Ferrets vary some in how easily blood testing can be
done at home. Some clot too danged fast. (Actually, not long ago there
was actually a veterinary article on that propensity in ferrets.)

Two other pretty common considerations for ferrets before giving Pred:
1. Is there heart disease? Pred can be hard on a diseased heart but
sometimes there is just no choice.

2. Is there an ulcer? Pred can worsen ulcers. Always give Pred with
food and those who have ulcers should have Carafate (which comes in a
liquid prep by prescription at any pharmacy, or from some vets) about a
half hour before food or meds. (Never give Carafate close to meds or it
can coat some which will make them ineffective. There are some meds it
should not be given with at all so read up on it on-line. Give Carafate
before food and then give it time to settle into the injured areas and
act as a "bandage" before giving food.)

Sukie (not a vet)

Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/
http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
all ferret topics:
http://listserv.ferretmailinglist.org/archives/ferret-search.html
"All hail the procrastinators for they shall rule the world tomorrow."
(2010, Steve Crandall)

[Posted in FML 7041]