to:    Anthony C Sulpizio <>
 
I'm sure one of the vets will get back to you, but I can give you (and
everyone else) layman's terms for signs of pancreatic tumors.
 
Most ferrets start out with small bouts of spacyness, drooling, lack of
coordination and/or heavy, deep sleeping.  Seizures similar to epeleptics
(sp?) with or without screaming mean the tumors on the pancreas are really
shorting the brain for sugar.
 
Ferrets can have low blood sugar from any fast.  If the ferret has not eaten
for three hours, the glucose will be lower than normal (80-120), but readings
in the 40-50 range should be followed up by at least another glucose check.
 Note when the last time the ferret ate some regular food - do NOT spike the
reading by feeding the ferret any sugar/fructose product (fruit, nutri-cal,
linatone) before a glucose check.
 
I did a random check of my oldtimers a few months back, using a glucose
reader for diabetics.  I had two ferrets come up under 40.  Neither have
shown any signs of pancreatic tumors as described above.  I brought them
upstairs to my "retirement room" which has a window.  I have added brewer's
yeast to their food and give them Nurtical as a treat.  They STILL show no
signs of insulinoma.  One is 8 years old and the other is 5 1/2 years.
Needless to say, the 8 year old will NOT undergo surgery unless it is the
last and only option, but I have put two 6 year olds through the proceedure
and they are doing fine after over a year each.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Pam
[Posted in FML issue 1120]