Here is some information about insulinomas from the Animal Medical Center that should be of interest. It is one of many informational leaflets handed out there, but the only one I saw on ferrets while I was there with Bandit: INSULINOMAS IN FERRETS Insulinoma is a very common disease in middle age to older ferrets (3-6 years of age). Insulin is a hormone which lowers the increased blood sugar that occurs after a meal. It is produced by specific cells in the pancreas. In ferrets with an insulinoma, these cells become cancerous and produce too much insulin. The high insulin concentration causes the blood sugar to drop too low for the brain and nervous system to function normally. Insulinomas are slow growing tumors but can occur as one or multiple tumors throughout the pancreas. Clinical signs are related to the amount of insulin produced by the tumor. Early signs may be a decrease in normal activity, an increase in sleeping, or a weakness in the back legs. More commonly, ferrets will have episodes of weakness of collapse. During these episodes, ferrets may appear nauseous and salivate or paw at their mouth. Some ferrets appear dazed, unresponsive, or in a coma. Rarely a ferret may seizure during these episodes. The episodes typically last several minutes. Ferrets usually recover on their own, but may remain weak for several hours afterward. Diagnosis of insulinoma is based on the history of episodes of weakness, the results of the physical examination, and blood tests. We treat insulinomas with medical therapy, surgery, or a combination of both. Which way we treat your ferret depends on how sick your ferret is, how old your ferret is, and what treatment you feel most comfortable with. Medical therapy involves giving drugs which help keep the blood sugar at a normal concentration. Two drugs are commonly used: prenisolone and diazoxide (Proglycem). These drugs help control the clinical signs but will not stop the growth of the tumor. With time, more medication is usually needed because of the increasing concentration of insulin. You must stay in touch with your doctor and give regular updates on your ferret's condition as the medications may need to be readjusted. Surgical therapy involves removing the section of the pancreas which contains the tumor. Surgery is usually not curative, but can significantly slow the progress of the disease. The normal hospital stay is two to three days. Medication may or may not be needed after surgery, depending on how advanced the disease is. Even with surgery, most ferrets eventually need medication to keep blood sugar at a normal concentration. If your ferret has an insulinoma, learn to recognize the signs of low blood sugar: episodes of weakness, salivating, sleeping too much, or excessive tiredness. What should you do if your ferret becomes weak or collapses? First, make sure your ferret has been given the prescribed medication in the right amount. If he can eat, give him his normal food, baby food, or Nutrical. If he is too weak to eat, rub honey, Karo syrup, or sugar water on his gums. As soon as he can swallow, hand feed him a meal. Call your doctor as soon as possible to discuss further treatment. If your ferret does not respond within a few minutes or is seizuring, come into the hospital as an emergency. Insulinoma is a serious disease that requires treatment. But with proper care, your ferret can have a happy, normal life. The Animal Medical Center Speyer Hospital and Caspary Research Institute 510 East 62nd Street New York, New York 10021 212-838-8100 [Posted in FML issue 0240]