Studies show that melatonin can stall or slow some types of growths,
but its effects are not as strong as Lupron.  It is still useful and
it uses different routes than Lupron so using the two in combination
is an excellent idea when surgery is not possible.
 
I do not know if anyone has studied using it in conjunction with
deslorelin/Suprelorin yet to see if that combo also packs a one-two
punch.
 
Surgery is still usually to preferred approach.
 
Where melatonin may have its best impact is in the same place a providing
a lot of complete darkness does: reducing rates of adrenal disease and
delaying onset because too little melatonin produced by the body is now
a known part of causing the formation of adrenal tumors.
 
For excellent info on treating adrenal disease and its complications go
to the Miamiferret site in my signature and read the posts that are by
or in consultation with:
 
Dr. Deborah Kemmerer-Cottrell
Dr. Jerry Murray
Mike Janke
 
and go to the FHL archives URL in my signature and look up posts on
the topic from AFERRETVET
 
Isn't it just incredibly wonderful to actually have a proven cause of
adrenal disease in ferrets after all these years (persistent increased
LH production) instead of an hypothesis?
 
There is study on-going into several aspects of ferret genetics, so that
may also show if some lines or markings are associated with increased
vulnerability.  That work was originally looking at something else but
appears to have broadened quite a bit.  There may be some preliminary
data on part of that this year, and hopefully firm data for at least
parts of that study in 2007 if all goes well according to a knowledgeable
third party, so fingers are crossed and it always pays to remember that
well conducted studies often produce surprises which are worth a longer
wait when found, and I trust these investigators so if the wait is longer
it's still going to be worth it.
 
-- Sukie (not a vet, and not speaking for any of the below in my
private posts)
Recommended health resources to help ferrets and the people who love
them:
Ferret Health List
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/ferrethealth
FHL Archives
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
AFIP Ferret Pathology
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
Miamiferrets
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
International Ferret Congress Critical References
http://www.ferretcongress.org
[Posted in FML issue 5214]