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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 10:15:55 GMT -5
Hi. I have not posted about Thomas J ans his insulinoma since February, since it was getting bad. Well now its worse. I opted out of any surgery and stuck with giving him meds, Prednisolone. He has been on it since february twice a day. His seizures have been getting worse and more frequent. I rushed him to the vets about a month ago because he had a seziure that lasted all night till the morning. I was giving him kyro syrup and keeping him warm. His head became tilted and it was like he was drunk. The vet said its just going to get worse. So we can either end it now or give him dextroce?(Spelling) to see if he comes out of it. So he did. His back legs are now so week and fall from under him all the time. The only time he is awake is to eat drink and try to make it to the litter box, which he rarely does not even use anymore. He has not had a good day in a few weeks now. He is not himself anymore. He just lays and stares. He is mostly always kinda out of it. I constantly have to clean him after he goes to the bathroom. And after he has a bad attack he messes up his sheets and i constantly have to wash them. Thomas is six and i just dont know if there is something more i can do to help him or is this going to just keep getting worse? And when is it time to let go. I dont want him to suffer if he is not feeling well.
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Post by Heather on Jul 15, 2014 11:47:27 GMT -5
What is his BG now and can you do 3 dosages of pred a day? Have you tried doing Dex along with the pred? Sherry and Miami are much better with this than I am. They've both dealt with this level of care for an insulinoma ferret.
I've had a lot of ferrets and what you ask, is not only a common question, it's one that each one of us looks for something different as an answer.
What is in your heart? Is your little one living life, enjoying life as a ferret or just existing? Is he deriving any joy out of being on this plain? We have a gift that we can give our little ones that we cannot give to our loved ones, the gift of release. It too, is an act of love. Ask yourself, if your little one is enjoying being here, other than the love and snuggles you give him, is his life that of what a ferret would be enjoying. Often you can look in their eyes, they will tell you. Some will stay just for us, but there's a look that comes into their eyes and those that try to hide it from you will not meet your gaze. It's a far away look, like they're already seeing the road that lies ahead. They're tired.
I wish you both luck, I will light a strength candle. The decision is never easy, but remember it's done out of love.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 11:58:01 GMT -5
Thanks Heather. I dont have the meter to know his BG. They checked it last time i took him to the vet and as always it was bad. I do look at him and in his eyes. I see a tired, week, sad ferret. But when i look at his whole face it looks like a normal ferret. But the when he gets up to move around its not normal. With the hair loss, and how i can see his spine and ribs is just sad. He does not even eat his kibble anymore. Just treats and ground raw meats. But he does drink. It just seems now like his BG is always off constantly. And nothing is working. The only time he seems at peace is when he is sleeping
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2014 12:01:52 GMT -5
I'm so sorry that you (and your ferret) are going through this. Good luck
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Post by Heather on Jul 15, 2014 12:20:00 GMT -5
I think you've probably answered your own question, but need time and thought to come to terms and peace with it  Good luck to both of you. You are in our thoughts ciao |
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Post by Sherry on Jul 17, 2014 0:14:49 GMT -5
I hate to say this but I think you already know the answer  his eyes have been telling you he is tired. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 26, 2014 22:57:21 GMT -5
You will all be happy to know Thomas is still alive and doing fine. His seizures have become less frequent. He still gets meds twice a day but I have also been feeding him raw meet more often in one day and it seems to be working out great. He is still losing all his hair, but at a slow rate. I am afraid it will all be gone by the end of the year. His back legs still give him a problem from time to time. Im keeping my fingers crossed that he is still with me for his seventh birthday in March
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Post by Heather on Aug 26, 2014 23:24:21 GMT -5
Could he possibly be adrenal? Fun-go bought some wonderful time when I got him implanted with the DES. He was insulinoma but he developed adrenal later. I knew he had insulinoma so we knew to look for crashes once the DES kicked in. We had to raise his pred up a bit but that was it. He did very well and it helped control his BG too once I started treating the adrenal. One thing to also remember is that hair loss can also be directly attributed to long term pred use. It's just a couple of things to consider. I'm so glad that you were eventually able to bring Thomas' BG around and stabilized so that he could continue to enjoy life ciao |
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Post by Sherry on Aug 27, 2014 9:07:00 GMT -5
He does indeed sound adrenal. A lupron trial will tell you one way or the other.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2014 10:32:11 GMT -5
I am so sorry about Thomas. We went thru this with Ponce. In addition to Insulinoma, he had Lymphoma. Towards the end, he was like Thomas. Mostly immobile, I cleaned him up after he went potty and spent alot of time, just holding him. The vet didn't advise surgery or chemo because of his age. He was almost seven. We tried adding Diazoxide, but it was really too late and didn't help. I asked this question on the forum also. Ponce wasn't in pain and I wanted him to be with me and in my arms, when the time arrived. We finally decided to make the appointment and he passed away, in my arms before we went to the vet. In the end, I was glad that he was safe and secure and knew he was loved. I couldn't have stood thinking that Ponce was afraid or stressed in the end. His passing was loving, peaceful and kind. All of our decisions have to be made, knowing our own ferrets. I'm not advising you to go one way or the other. I hope your Thomas will get better and I wish him a Gentle Journey, if that's not possible. All my best, |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2014 23:36:09 GMT -5
I would definitely say he is adrenal too. Vet even said that. The hair loss started before he was on the meds. It started at the tail and has worked its way to his shoulders and now he's losing it around his neck and head. Poor guy. Guess the meds just make the hair loss worse
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Post by Sherry on Aug 28, 2014 8:17:10 GMT -5
In that case he NEEDS to be medicated for it. Either lupron monthly or a des implant.
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Post by unclejoe on Aug 28, 2014 12:29:35 GMT -5
Because you asked, IMHO, his cancer has spread beyond his pancreas. I've had 5 ferrets who passed from cancer. 2 Started with adrenal, 1 with lymphoma and 2 insulinoma. At the end, they all started shedding fur like in adrenal. I believe it was because the cancer spread and the meds were no longer working. All were treated with pred, but all that does is control inflammation and pain. None of then had major seizures, but honestly, if I had to witness that on a regular basis I would have let them go. Cancer sucks.
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Good luck to both of you. You are in our thoughts
