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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 15:38:22 GMT -5
1.5 ml is a lot and was almost the max dose for my 1.6 lb girl, mine were started at 0.2 ml. Prednisone can ve injectable but it most definitely is available in liquid form and every Vet should know this, dogs and cats can take liquid pred also. May be worth going to a different Vet.
Do you have a BG meter? Can you check and see what hers is?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 16:05:40 GMT -5
I checked her BG this morning...using her tail worked great! Her BG was at 32.4 from 30.6 at the vet two days ago. It's going up but not very fast.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 16:34:48 GMT -5
30 is very low... I think being on liquid pred would help her more, is there any other Vet that will just examine, do a BG test and write a prescription for liquid Prednisolone or Pediapred?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 16:59:35 GMT -5
I could try and see, because I heard back from the vet and they are keeping her on the same dose and the tech told me that pediapred and prednisolone is the same thing as prednisone. She also told me that they have prednisone cream that could be put on her ear. I'm so frustrated right now!
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Post by Heather on Dec 19, 2014 18:27:35 GMT -5
I would be too. Here a scientific definition and the reason why we use it in ferrets:
The difference between prednisone and prednisolone is that one is the precursor to the other. Prednisone is activated by enzymes in the liver to turn into prednisolone. They do have similar uses but prednisolone is more readily absorbed by the body. Prednisolone is usually used when there is liver toxicity or liver failure involved.
Although they have many similarities, there are some differences between these two substances. For one, the do have a different chemical structure and molecular weight. Also, prednisone is administered only orally, whereas prednisolone can be given orally or topically or even injected if necessary. Lastly, prednisolone has a greater anti-inflammatory effect, albeit not a particularly significant one.
Prednisone and prednisolone are both synthetically produced corticosteroids that have anti-inflammatory properties. They are used for a variety of issues where chronic or acute inflammation is involved. Some common examples are Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, severe allergies, cluster and migraine headaches and ulcerative colitis. Other examples are temporal arteritis, Bell's palsy, multiple sclerosis, vasculitis, acute lymphoblastic leukemia and autoimmune hepatitis.
Both drugs also suppress the immune system and can be administered when an organ transplant is performed to prevent the body from rejecting the implanted organ. Prednisone and prednisolone can also be used in cases of overactive adrenal glands, as in the case of congenital adrenal hyperplasia — a group of diseases in which the adrenal glands are not functioning properly. They can both also be used to help fight tumors because of their immunosuppressive abilities.
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 20:36:13 GMT -5
Thank you for the info Heather. We have surrounding areas where I live and I'm going to look for a vet there. Will Bella's BG ever go to normal?? My heart is so broken.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 20:41:00 GMT -5
If you get her medicine and dosage straightened out her BG should raise yes, it may not ever go back to normal levels, but she may very well go back to acting normal. Their body can adjust to the low levels. It can take 7-10 days for the medicine to effectively raise her BG. You're feeding her every 3-4 hours correct?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 21:20:13 GMT -5
The doctor will not raise her meds at this time. I'm feeding her every 3 hours.
I have prepped syringes with 2 tsps in each to feed her every 3 hours, between the hours of 9am to Midnight, if I see that the 2 tsp are too much then I will cut back just a little, as this would give her 2oz/day.
I also have a spreadsheet to track her BG, Food Intake and Weight.
How often should I be checking her BG??
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 21:23:44 GMT -5
See if you can call around for another Vet, just to get a second opinion and possibly to get some liquid Pred.
Usually I try and check mines BG every month or so, but since you're monitoring hers you can every 5-7 days to make sure it raises and doesn't drop, but if one day it seems kinda low then check it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 21:27:40 GMT -5
I'm wondering if I should purchase a BG Tester specifically for pets?? I wonder if they are more accurate.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 21:32:38 GMT -5
They can be more accurate yes, but if you calibrate yours with your Vets then it isn't necessary because that's what theirs is for. My Vet uses the AlphaTrak 2, he wrote it down for me in case I wanted to buy it (I had two Insulinomics and frequented the office for checkups), it's made for pets, it's around $70-$90 though, It's available online.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 22:08:32 GMT -5
That's the funny thing...my vet said that they didn't have one, that the machine they use requires quite a bit of blood. ? I'm really confused with this vet. I did see the Alpha Trak 2...I wouldn't have to calibrate with a vets' if I got that one right?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 22:14:19 GMT -5
You're Vet is a bit off-putting to me, no (simple) BG meter, no liquid pred..? Hm. Heather is in ON Canada I'm pretty sure, Heather do you know of any ferret-knowledgeable Vets she could see? No you wouldn't need to calibrate the AlphaTrak, that's what my Vet told me.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 22:22:17 GMT -5
awesome! I might buy one. I'm using my father in law's right now. It's better than nothing...but I've read that they could be off by as many as 10 points! That's alot! I got the 2 tsps into Bella a while ago!! I feel like I'm forcing her for some of it though, but I know I have to get it into her.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 19, 2014 22:29:17 GMT -5
A low BG can make them naseous/not want to eat, but you're right she does need to to keep her BG from dropping. What are her symptoms? Just lethargy? Does she have hind leg weakness or any others?
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