Wayne, there are marvelous resources to learn about insulinoma and other health problems and the links at these sites will prove a great help: http://www.ferretcongress.org (many sites by vets in the URLs) http://www.trifl.org/medical.html http://www.ferretcentral.org http://www.fothferrets.com/ferretinfo.html When a site is worth mentioning anywhere in such lists it often has further gems in other sections, too! We personally usually go with surgery for insulinoma (unless presurgical testing or condtion of the ferret argue against that but we do have a vet who is a marvelous ferret one and great at surgeries: Joe Martins of the Bellemead Animal Hospital in NJ) and then restart meds (Prednisone/Prednisolone and/or Diazoxide) when surgery isn't enough or when the insulinoma later returns (which does not always happen). One thing to know about Insulinoma is that the surgery and treatments do not remove the underlying cause. Another is that it often does not present as a discrete tumor but can be more like having a find sand or other tiny growths so removing all is at times very difficult or impossible and ultrasounds may not be helpful in such a case. Medication levels depend on level of control, monitored with blood glucose tests and by watching symptoms. Ferrets are not particularly prone to steroid side effects, BTW, and that piece of luck is wonderful. Also be sure to see the easily searched Archives of the FML (URL is in the headder of every day's FML) and the FHL (Ferret Health List) http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org I am not a vet, just a non-vet with ferrets for 21 years who has had long involvement in trying to advance ferret health care. --- Re: mosquitos: Lorraine, in areas with heartworm it IS important to protect against mosquito bites. To find the ways to do so go to http://www.miamiferret.org and the sites mentioned above. --- When a growth is removed it always pays to have pathology done to find out what type of growth is found. That gives the best chance of getting accurate data for knowing how to further respond when necessary. --- Anesthesia: some vets do a great many surgeries in one day and don't have really good delivery systems for gas so may get a bit punchy themselves from inhaling Iso; that's rare, of course, but I know of one case where a practise owner was not the operating vet and didn't respond well to such concerns. (And, gee, that practise lost several vets and many clients...) Injectable anesthesias can't be stopped immediately when a problem arises and remain in the body for a while. That makes them trickier though some vets are good with a few of those. Gary, there was at least one interesting discussion on the topic among vets in the past on the FHL so the Complete FHL Archives will have info. See URL above. --- In any ferret with refulx it is very important to make sure that megaesophagus is not present. If it is then a great deal of information is present at http://www.miamiferret.org . [Posted in FML issue 4294]