| update on brodie from last feb. - CLICK HERE for the Pet Manual Forum Home Page |
| PIENKA |
Hey, just an update on brodie from last february (for those of you who remember
my frantic posts about my lethargic, vomitting boy). We go to the University
of Tennessee vet school here, which is allegedly quite skilled at handling
ferrets. They practically laughed at us when they told us insulinoma, and we
asked for surgery. Anyway, his spleen is still enlarged, to the point that it
is starting to harden and we have been warned to keep him from falling because
one fall could cause his spleen to rupture, death would follow shortly.
Although he had several gastro problems since he was originally diagnosed with
insulinoma, he is currently free of infection. His bg hovers around 35-40.
He's survived for 8 months, although they are now saying he is in the final
stages. He also developed adrenal disease sometime in the past 3 months. He
is losing most of his hair but he is still active enough to climb the stairs,
just takes him a while longer than most. He travels with us everywhere, going
with us to Birmingham, AL tonite for christmas. He happily goes along with us
as long as we have towels and warm spots. We've taken lots of pictures and are
grateful for the time that we have had. Just wanted to post in case anyone
else has problems with a lethargic ferret, who appears to be vomitting and has
no other symptoms besides enlarged spleen and glucose problems (they initially
didn't show). Get your fuzzy to the vet and read up on the internet and in
magazines. Our vet actually apologized to us two months ago, admitting that
had they done surgery initially, brodie might have lived another year or two.
Hope everyone is doing well for the holidays, we are off with one of the
fuzzies!
Lesley, David, Jonathon, Brodie, Rain, Cracker, Stormy, Sky, Ketsei, Medea, and
Karma
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| jumpingmouse & kylie |
Yes, I remember Brodie! Glad to hear he is still around, but so sorry to
hear of his continuing medical problems. Enjoy every day. These little ones
have such precious little time, even at best. <<<hugs>>> to Brodie from
Kylie and me......Merry Christmas!
jumpingmouse & kylie
"PIENKA" <pienka@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20031225025430.04179.00001898@mb-m29.aol.com...
> Hey, just an update on brodie from last february (for those of you who
remember
> my frantic posts about my lethargic, vomitting boy). We go to the
University
> of Tennessee vet school here, which is allegedly quite skilled at handling
> ferrets. They practically laughed at us when they told us insulinoma, and
we
> asked for surgery. Anyway, his spleen is still enlarged, to the point that
it
> is starting to harden and we have been warned to keep him from falling
because
> one fall could cause his spleen to rupture, death would follow shortly.
> Although he had several gastro problems since he was originally diagnosed
with
> insulinoma, he is currently free of infection. His bg hovers around
35-40.
> He's survived for 8 months, although they are now saying he is in the
final
> stages. He also developed adrenal disease sometime in the past 3 months.
He
> is losing most of his hair but he is still active enough to climb the
stairs,
> just takes him a while longer than most. He travels with us everywhere,
going
> with us to Birmingham, AL tonite for christmas. He happily goes along
with us
> as long as we have towels and warm spots. We've taken lots of pictures
and are
> grateful for the time that we have had. Just wanted to post in case
anyone
> else has problems with a lethargic ferret, who appears to be vomitting and
has
> no other symptoms besides enlarged spleen and glucose problems (they
initially
> didn't show). Get your fuzzy to the vet and read up on the internet and
in
> magazines. Our vet actually apologized to us two months ago, admitting
that
> had they done surgery initially, brodie might have lived another year or
two.
>
> Hope everyone is doing well for the holidays, we are off with one of the
> fuzzies!
>
> Lesley, David, Jonathon, Brodie, Rain, Cracker, Stormy, Sky, Ketsei,
Medea, and
> Karma
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| Melissa |
Hi,
I don't remember this whole story, but what's the reason he can't have
surgery? And why can't he still have it now?
-Melissa
In article <20031225025430.04179.00001898@mb-m29.aol.com>,
pienka@aol.com (PIENKA) wrote:
> Hey, just an update on brodie from last february (for those of you who
> remember
> my frantic posts about my lethargic, vomitting boy). We go to the University
> of Tennessee vet school here, which is allegedly quite skilled at handling
> ferrets. They practically laughed at us when they told us insulinoma, and we
> asked for surgery. Anyway, his spleen is still enlarged, to the point that it
> is starting to harden and we have been warned to keep him from falling
> because
> one fall could cause his spleen to rupture, death would follow shortly.
> Although he had several gastro problems since he was originally diagnosed
> with
> insulinoma, he is currently free of infection. His bg hovers around 35-40.
> He's survived for 8 months, although they are now saying he is in the final
> stages. He also developed adrenal disease sometime in the past 3 months. He
> is losing most of his hair but he is still active enough to climb the stairs,
> just takes him a while longer than most. He travels with us everywhere,
> going
> with us to Birmingham, AL tonite for christmas. He happily goes along with
> us
> as long as we have towels and warm spots. We've taken lots of pictures and
> are
> grateful for the time that we have had. Just wanted to post in case anyone
> else has problems with a lethargic ferret, who appears to be vomitting and
> has
> no other symptoms besides enlarged spleen and glucose problems (they
> initially
> didn't show). Get your fuzzy to the vet and read up on the internet and in
> magazines. Our vet actually apologized to us two months ago, admitting that
> had they done surgery initially, brodie might have lived another year or two.
>
> Hope everyone is doing well for the holidays, we are off with one of the
> fuzzies!
>
> Lesley, David, Jonathon, Brodie, Rain, Cracker, Stormy, Sky, Ketsei, Medea,
> and
> Karma
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| PIENKA |
We asked for the surgery initially, the Dr said it would be better to treat him
with medicine. Since then, she has actually recanted and said that it was
probably a mistake not to do the surgery then because he has gotten
dramatically worse. The lot of the doctors (three of them) who have treated
Brodie say he is in the final stages, his blood glucose won't go high enough
for him to be stable to do the surgery. The doctor also said that there was
really no chance that the surgery would have helped though, she has only seen
one ferret recover from insulinoma. It might have given him two years though.
So now, we're basically just supporting him until he can't go anymore. He
actually used to climb the stairs when he wanted his soft food. He hasn't
climbed them in about a month though. He won't play with his sisters, so its
basically just getting up to eat. He free roams but he doesn't really do much
anymore. He's almost 5 now, sort of scary because we got the third ferret
almost two years ago, in case one of the two got sick, didn't want the other to
be lonely. Luckily, they are both healthy although the older (almost 5.5) is
showing signs of adrenal disease now too. Oh well, hope everyone had a merry
christmas. Brodie got to travel to birmingham and have all sorts of traveling
fun. :)
~Lesley
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| Melissa |
In article <20031229223256.11386.00001894@mb-m11.aol.com>,
pienka@aol.com (PIENKA) wrote:
> We asked for the surgery initially, the Dr said it would be better to treat
> him
> with medicine. Since then, she has actually recanted and said that it was
> probably a mistake not to do the surgery then because he has gotten
> dramatically worse. The lot of the doctors (three of them) who have treated
> Brodie say he is in the final stages, his blood glucose won't go high enough
> for him to be stable to do the surgery. The doctor also said that there was
> really no chance that the surgery would have helped though, she has only seen
> one ferret recover from insulinoma. It might have given him two years
> though.
> So now, we're basically just supporting him until he can't go anymore. He
> actually used to climb the stairs when he wanted his soft food. He hasn't
> climbed them in about a month though. He won't play with his sisters, so its
> basically just getting up to eat. He free roams but he doesn't really do
> much
> anymore. He's almost 5 now, sort of scary because we got the third ferret
> almost two years ago, in case one of the two got sick, didn't want the other
> to
> be lonely. Luckily, they are both healthy although the older (almost 5.5) is
> showing signs of adrenal disease now too. Oh well, hope everyone had a merry
> christmas. Brodie got to travel to birmingham and have all sorts of
> traveling
> fun. :)
> ~Lesley
Hi again,
Are there no vets near you that are comfortable doing this surgery?
Insulinoma surgery is not curative, as your vets said, but as they also
said, a partial pancreactomy often buys another year or two -and that's
a lot of time for a ferret! Obviously I don't have all the facts or
information about your ferret and can only go by what you've said here,
but if you can find better qualified ferret vets, there might still be a
chance of being able to do a successful surgery ("successful" not being
curative, but getting rid of symptoms for another 1-2 years.). It may
not be impossible at this stage. Only a very experienced ferret vet will
know that for sure. It sounds like -from what you've said above- your
vets know a *little* about ferrets but it doesn't sound like ferrets are
their specialty.
Best of luck with brodie no matter what the outcome.
-Melissa
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| PIENKA |
That's pretty much how we feel about it as well. Unfortunately, no one here
will treat ferrets but UT. Allegedly, they are VERY good and have a great
reputation. According to something my husband found, University of Tennessee
is the only place that has an accurate test for adrenal disease or something
like that. We talked about bringing him to Auburn. The doctors at UT were
much nicer to us after that, but basically said surgery is no longer an option,
he's to far along. If anyone is from around here and has any suggestions as to
another vet, we are willing to try it, but everyone tells us they send all
their non-regulatory ferret cases to UT Vet school.
~Lesley
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