To Becky Kain:
 
>Has anyone used this drug before?  It was perscribed for Escher and I am
>curious as to other people's ferret's experiences with it.
 
    Proglycem is commonly prescribed as medical treatment for islet cell
tumors due an antagonizing effect upon insulin.  However, we don't really
know how or why it works, as it's primary usage inhumans is as a diuretic.
 
    There is a fair amount of controversy as to the efficacy of this drug
in ferrets.  Most of the vets that I know may prescribe it on top of
prednisone in refractory medical cases, but in many ferrets it seems to
have little or no effect, and it is a powerfully expensive medication.
Certianly it's worth a try, but be very objective in evaluating it's
usefulness (unless you have a money tree.)
 
    Remember, if Escher has not been evaluated for surgery on islet cell
tumors, that is always the first and best way to go, if possible.
 
Bruce Williams, DVM, DACVP
Dept. of Vet Path, AFIP
[log in to unmask]  OR
Chief Pathologist, AccuPath
[log in to unmask]
[Posted in FML issue 1266]