Hi X,
Yes, you can give melatonin and Lupron at the same time.  (Please do not
give melatonin IF this ferret is in a Lupron study).  Usually you will see
the vulva decrease in size quickly (1-2 weeks), but hair growth can take
longer (1-4 months).  Sometimes you will not notice a big difference in
the haircoat until the ferret goes through the next shed cycle (spring or
fall).  I also use the 1 month version of Lupron.  From what the people at
TAP (the manufacture) told me, the 1 month version only last for roughly
30 days (in their animal studies).  It may take some time after 1 month
before the hormone levels go up and signs return, but you do not want to
wait until the hormones are causing problems again before you give the
next dose.  Thus it is better to stay on a monthly schedule.  I have not
used Lupron in intact ferrets, but if you give the melatonin implant to
an intact mink, you have to wait until the next year before it can breed
again even though the implant only last 3-4 months.
 
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM
 
  ----
 
Hi Y and Z,
 
Lupron tends to give better results that last for a longer time than
melatonin based on the U of Wisconsin study.  I also use melatonin in
cases where the owner can not afford Lupron and recently with Lupron for
those cases of adrenal carcinomas that do not respond well to Lupron by
itself.  I and Dr Johnson from Texas A&M are planning a study using the
mink melatonin implants to see if they work better than the daily tablet
form of melatonin.  I'll let you know how that goes.  In the mean time I
would continue using 1 mg of melatonin once a day about 8-9 hours after
sunrise.  Melatonin is better than no treatment.
 
Hope that answers your questions,
Jerry Murray, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3702]