>Does givig pred to an insulinomic ferret allow the receptors on cells
>the detect insulin to "burn out" or become non-responsive?  If so, does
>this mean it is not a good idea to treat a ferret with pred and then stop
>the pred to do surgery?
 
Prednisone doesn't affect insulin receptors at all - it actually increases
the mobilization of fat and the manufacture or glucose by the liver from
building blocks of protein and more complex sugars.
 
If a ferret has been on pred to manage hypoglycemia, I generally do not
recommend stopping prednisone prior to surgery.  It can be stopped
following surgery, and at this time, the blood glucose should be monitored
closely - there is often a post surgical hyperglycemia that may be worsened
by post-surgical prednisone administration.
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3482]