Wayne, there are marvelous resources to learn about insulinoma and other
health problems and the links at these sites will prove a great help:
 
http://www.ferretcongress.org (many sites by vets in the URLs)
http://www.trifl.org/medical.html
http://www.ferretcentral.org
http://www.fothferrets.com/ferretinfo.html
 
When a site is worth mentioning anywhere in such lists it often has
further gems in other sections, too!
 
We personally usually go with surgery for insulinoma (unless presurgical
testing or condtion of the ferret argue against that but we do have a
vet who is a marvelous ferret one and great at surgeries: Joe Martins
of the Bellemead Animal Hospital in NJ) and then restart meds
(Prednisone/Prednisolone and/or Diazoxide) when surgery isn't enough or
when the insulinoma later returns (which does not always happen).  One
thing to know about Insulinoma is that the surgery and treatments do not
remove the underlying cause.  Another is that it often does not present
as a discrete tumor but can be more like having a find sand or other tiny
growths so removing all is at times very difficult or impossible and
ultrasounds may not be helpful in such a case.  Medication levels depend
on level of control, monitored with blood glucose tests and by watching
symptoms.  Ferrets are not particularly prone to steroid side effects,
BTW, and that piece of luck is wonderful.
 
Also be sure to see the easily searched Archives of the FML (URL is in
the headder of every day's FML) and the FHL (Ferret Health List)
http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org
 
I am not a vet, just a non-vet with ferrets for 21 years who has had long
involvement in trying to advance ferret health care.
---
 
Re: mosquitos:  Lorraine, in areas with heartworm it IS important to
protect against mosquito bites. To find the ways to do so go to
http://www.miamiferret.org and the sites mentioned above.
---
 
When a growth is removed it always pays to have pathology done to find
out what type of growth is found.  That gives the best chance of getting
accurate data for knowing how to further respond when necessary.
---
 
Anesthesia: some vets do a great many surgeries in one day and don't have
really good delivery systems for gas so may get a bit punchy themselves
from inhaling Iso; that's rare, of course, but I know of one case where
a practise owner was not the operating vet and didn't respond well to
such concerns.  (And, gee, that practise lost several vets and many
clients...)
 
Injectable anesthesias can't be stopped immediately when a problem arises
and remain in the body for a while.  That makes them trickier though some
vets are good with a few of those.
 
Gary, there was at least one interesting discussion on the topic among
vets in the past on the FHL so the Complete FHL Archives will have info.
See URL above.
---
 
In any ferret with refulx it is very important to make sure that
megaesophagus is not present.  If it is then a great deal of information
is present at http://www.miamiferret.org .
[Posted in FML issue 4294]