Hello my ferret family, I am in need of your opinions and experiences RE: the max amount of prednisone given before one starts the proglycem. I have read that the maximum beneficial dosage is 2 mg/kg twice a day before starting proglycem. With my pediapred being l ml = 1 mg, that means I can safely give Fang two ml. twice a day.....BUT those of you I have tried to directly learn from (God bless you) believe that even ONE ml. twice a day is a lot, and have told me that most people don't give their babies that much! Fang is getting .8 1/2 ml. (point 8 and a half) two times a day now. His last glucose reading came in at 86, which was two weeks ago. While not extremely low, the vet I am seeing locally really wants to see it climb above 90, which I've learned from the FML, is the best thing. But she doesn't like to increase the pred unless we have to. My vet in the city who did Fang's insulinoma surgery in Feb., quotes Dr. Weiss as believing that one can go up to THREE full mls twice a day, and tells me we have a long way to go before starting the proglycem. (I think the advice of maxing out at two ml of prednisone is *sound*, and will stay with that..) BUT, why do so many of you think that anything around ONE ml. is really high? I thought we all agreed that Dr. Weiss is one to be respected and believed in! I am confused that no one seems to be in agreement on just how much is too much. I know that I am supposed to ask my vets, but even they don't agree. I hate it that this is such a *gray area*, as I like things black and white so I can face things, and get on with whatever I have to do. I am very insecure about doing anything detrimental to Fang. The truth is that he is slowing down way more than I hoped for. Some of your babies on pred still play and show interest in stimulants. (toys, other animals, etc.) Fang sleeps most of the time, and can't go up and down the stairs as well as he used to. Seems to be harder for him since he has gained weight , more than hind leg weakness (that I really don't see). Lisette cautioned me about too much weight, as her Baby might have been better off with less weight before she died...I have tried to cut down on Bob's Chicken Gravy (from four to three ice cubes a day) to keep his weight in a healthier range. I will increase the pred, and go to the proglycem when needed, but I will not let him suffer. I do not understand JUST WHEN the pred is too much for the tummy, and the side effects are not worth the dosage. I do NOT want to cause ulcers, and don't understand how you know when, and if, the ulcers are starting! I read the *Letting Go*, and I feel I can still give Fang several months of a decent life. He mostly sleeps, and I need to know if this is fairly normal for a five year old with insulinoma? Should I go ahead and not be afraid of upping his pred dosage, even to the TWO ml suggested maximum? Can somebody who went through this please share their experience with me? If your ferret slept most of the time, did upping the dose increase his awake times? Was there a big difference in behavior after starting proglycem? I know it depends on the glucose reading, but if it is hovering in the eighties, shouldn't the ferret's activity level be higher than the *mostly sleeptime* I am seeing? Fang is still responding to the love we give. The only time I hear little whimpers is when he is being moved on a full belly. He has adjusted his sleeping positions to accommodate his pudgy belly, but for the most part, he seems content. He can still go up and down the wood stairs, (about four times a day), but with more caution, and definitely less grace. When his belly is full, we carry him up and down as needed. I would like to think his activity level has decreased due to his age, as much as to his insulinoma. Is this common? Thank you for any advice you can share! Lizzi [Posted in FML issue 3052]