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Starting Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 9/24/2008 7:16:04 AM
Posts: 11,
Visits: 22
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| I havent read all of the posts here, but just looking at the symptoms described in the initial post it is OBVIOUS that your ferret has insulinoma. He has all the classic symptoms. Get your ferret to a vet ASAP, and have them do a glucose test. I'm not sure of how you "treat" ferrets with insulinoma in the US, but in Sweden the most common is to put them on cortisone (predisolon). There is no "cure" for insulinoma, but the earlier it is detected, the larger are the chances of prolonging the ferrets life, even though they will most likely have to remain on medication for the remainder of its life. So stpe one, go to a vet, tell them you suspect insulinoma. A blood sample cannot be that expensive in the us, tell them to check his glucose level. If it is anywhere below 3,74, you can be fairly sure it is insulinoma, in commbination with the symptoms he is presenting. Untreated insulinoma witll sooner or later lead to seizures, with coma as a result. You can "test" if he has insulinoma at home (no, its not a vet substitute, and it's not conclusive ofcourse), but whe he presents his symptoms, try rubbing some fructose, or even honey on his gums. He should be active and alert in a few minutes time. Insulinoma is kind of the opposite of diabetes. The ferrets pancreas are responsible for producing insulin, to break down sugars. Insulinoma means that there are tumors on the pancreas, which inihibit the production of sufficent amounts of insulin. Leading to an increased amount of sugars in the body, which in turn causes the symptoms described in the original post. It is a cancer, and it is leathal, and it should be diagnosed and "treated" imedeately. Regards Sara (writing from a friends account)
Loving and living with ferrets
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