The latest insulin being used is Lantus insulin (from Avantis
Pharmaceuticals) which has a more even and gradual release in ferrets.
Giving some Brewers yeast for the chromium may help also. It helps
decrease blood glucose.
PZI is an older insulin choice and for a while was the best option (and
for some ferrets might still be).
A glucose meter makes sense. Pam Sessoms has an excellent page on using
the Freestyle meter. Not all meters seem to work well for ferrets and
most only give an idea of trends since their numbering is more accurate
for humans.
As per a recent post from Dr. Jerry Murray to the FHl there will be a
veterinary meter available for us ferret folks in the near future.
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/FHL2596
>Abbott's Alpha Trak glucometer is validated for dog and cats. They are
>currently working on validating it for ferrets. They were hoping to
>have the ferret code by the end of Sept, so pretty soon we will have
>glucose machine that is very accurate for ferrets! In the mean time
>a the dog code is pretty close for ferrets
>Jerry Murray, DVM
There are posts in the various archives to help you for example:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/YPG376
>As others have pointed out, it is time to do a simple blood glucose
>test to see if his blood glucose is elevated (ie diabetes) or normal.
>If it is normal then a blood profile can be done to check the kidneys
>and a urine test can be done to check for a bladder infection. If his
>blood glucose is elevated then insulin may be needed to control his
>diabetes. PZI or Glargine insulin seem to work best in ferrets. You
>can also use chromium to help lower the blood glucose level.
>
>You ae correct that baby food (especially if you add water to it) will
>make a ferret urinate more than just dry kibble will, because more
>water goes in so more urine has to go out.
?
>Hope that helps,
>Jerry Murray, DVM
Another with a LOT of info:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG6592
>You have asked some good questions about how to treat your ferret with
>diabetes. I will try to answer them.
>1) What type of insulin to use? This is a very good question. The
>short answer is PZI VET insulin from Idexx. NPH is an
>intermediated-acting insulin, and it is the best insulin for dogs.
>Ultralente insulin is a long acting insulin, and it is the second
>choice for cats and ferrets. The PZI VET insulin is a beef insulin
>product that is the first choice for cats and ferrets. Interestingly
>there has been very little work done with ferret insulin. Cat insulin
>is very close to cow insulin. That is why PZI works well in cats. I
>have asked Dr James Fox (the lab vet at MIT) about which insulin is
>closet to ferret insulin, but that research just has not been done.
>However in my experience the PZI VET insulin works best, so perhaps
>ferret insulin is close to cat (and cow) insulin. I would recommend
>starting at 1 Unit/ferret 2 times a day of the PZI VET insulin. PZI
>is a 40 unit per ml (U-40) product, so you will need U-40 syringes.
>
>2) What diet should I use? The "ideal diet" for diabetic ferrest would
>have a high protein content 50-60%, high fat 30-40%, with a very low
>carbohydrate content only 1-5%, vitamins/minerals/etc. Thus Gerber's
>baby food, Hill's a/d, and the new Pretty Bird ferret food should be
>used as a supplement or as the main diet. Also treats need to be low
>carbohydrate such as cooked meats, cooked eggs, canned
>tuna/chicken/salmon, baby food, a/d. The new Hill's canned m/d or
>Purina canned DM may also be good options. 3) What about chromium?
>Chromium or brewer's yeast has insulin like activity and can help
>lower the glucose level. A suggested dose of chromium is 20-200 mcg/
>day, divided and mixed in with the food. 4) What about Lupron? If
>your ferret is showing signs of adrenal gland disease then I would
>recommend Lupron (or surgery when you get the glucose regulated). A
>small percent (~5%) of ferrets with adrenal gland disease will
>overproduce cortisol. Cortisol will elevate the glucose level and
>may cause diabetes.
>
>Hope that helps,
>Jerry Murray, DVM
There are more.
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/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
[Posted in FML 5749]
|
