ORIGINAL:
>Subject: Re: question on hind end weakness, bladder infections
 
>>If anyone has any experience with a ferret with a sickness that caused
>>hind end weakness or bladder infections I would love to hear how you
>>made out....
>>Debbie
 
RESPONSE:
Hi Debbie,
 
My experience with hind end weakness does NOT involve bladder infection,
so my response is ONLY to hind end weakness.
 
About 14 years ago, my very first ferrets developed symptoms of lethargy.
At that time I knew nothing about diseases common to ferrets and blindly
trusted my vet without question.  Looking back, I can see that my
fur-chidren had symptoms of Insulinoma, which went untreated.  These
ferrets were angel babies, but died before they were 2 years old.  It
breaks my heart that I didn't know enough at that time to intervene on
their behalf.
 
After losing those two ferrets, over the years, others developed sudden
onset hind end weakness (no bladder infection), while others exhibited
symptoms of general lethargy, which started slowly and gradually
increased.  In each case, the cause was Insulnoma.  Three stories are
below.
 
With Eddie, it was heartbreaking.  Once again, inexperience kept me from
being persistent with my vet.  Eddie went downhill quickly, much more
than with my first two.  I was told that Eddie was fine, that I was just
a "worried mother." A day later he was worse yet.  I sought a second
opinion, but it was too late.  My precious Eddie died several minutes
after surgery (even with the recommended injections).  This all happened
over a period of 15 days.  Eddie was not even three years old.  This new
vet became my regular vet.
 
At the first sign of Catter's symptoms, I sought immediate treatment
from this new vet, who started an aggressive dose of oral medication
(prednisone) to stabilize blood sugar.  After two weeks of a good blood
sugar reading, Catter was taken to surgery.  Half of her pancreas was
diseased and thus removed.  Pancreatic tumors were debulked or removed
from the remaining pancreas.  This sweet little girl is still living (2
years later).  She is still on a twice daily maintenance dose of oral
prednisone.  Catter is now five, and doing fine.
 
With Lucy, I became more aggressive in my approach.  Suspicious symptoms
started on a Sunday morning.  I phoned my vet's 24-hour emergency line
stating that I would be on the road within 3 minutes for an emergency
visit because of symptoms of Insulinoma, and asked if I should start
prednisone before leaving home (my vet is 1.5 hours away).  The answer
was yes.  The same protocol was followed as with Catter, and Lucy, now
seven years old, is still alive and happy.  She's now had surgery on the
pancreas twice.  The first involved debulking pancreatic tumors with
removal of the diseased part of the pancreas (1/2).  Two years later,
while in surgery for another issue, I asked that her pancreas be
explored.  More tumors had grown and were debulked.  Lucy is still on
a twice-daily maintenance dose of oral prednisone, which is controlling
her Insulinoma.
 
Ellen
[Posted in FML issue 5295]