Post by miamiferret2 on Dec 11, 2011 14:58:17 GMT -5
found this on: ferretsanon.com/CLIFFNotes/Vol6No16.html
Insulinoma in our Ferrets
Insulinoma in ferrets is as common as Adrenal Disease in our American domesticated ferrets. Insulinomas are cancerous beta cells of the pancreas which over produce insulin. Insulin is responsible for driving blood sugar (glucose) into the cells of the body so that it can be used as an energy source for metabolism. Too much insulin in the body, as in ferrets with insulinomas, causes too much blood sugar to be absorbed from the blood stream into the body’s cells. The consequence is that the blood glucose becomes too low and can threaten the life of the affected ferret as the brain uses only glucose as an energy source.
Cause: In the British Isles, where most pet ferrets are fed a raw meat diet (high in protein and fat, low in carbohydrates and fiber), insulinoma in ferrets is indeed a rare disease. However, recently British veterinarians are noticing an increase in the numbers of ferrets with this disease because as they have discovered more British ferret owners are feeding kibbled cat or ferret food. As ferrets are obligate carnivores, they need a diet which consists of at least 30% to 40% high quality animal protein, 15% to 20% fat and very low amounts of carbohydrates and fiber. This lends to the speculation that American ferrets are fed too many carbohydrates i.e. cereals, poor quality cat or dog foods and are given sugar rich treats. This is what is thought to be the cause of such a high rate of insulinoma tumors in our American ferret population.
Clinical Signs of hypoglycemia caused by Insulinomas
* Hypersalivation
* Overall decrease in energy
* Hindleg weakness
* Wobbling
* Glazed eyes or stuporous appearance
* Increased amount of sleeping
* Seizures in advanced cases
* Coma and death in the end-stages
Diagnosis: Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and blood glucose levels which is a simple 2 to 3 minute test. The normal blood glucose range in ferrets is between 90 to 125 mg/dl. Blood glucose values of less than 70 mg/dl certainly raise the suspicion of insulinomas, especially after a 2 to 4 hour fasting period.
Treatment: Treatment can be medical and/or surgical. Medical treatment consists of giving Prednisone or Prednisolone (a cortisone) to stimulate the production of glucose in the body. This corticosteroid is given twice daily for the rest of the ferret’s life. Injections of cortisones are given during a hypoglycemic crisis as well.
Diazoxide has anti-insulin affects and is added in with Prednisone if and when hypoglycemic episodes return. Note that they do NOT cure this cancerous disease.
Surgery involves cutting out as many tumors as can be seen or can even involve cutting out part of the pancreas itself. Most insulinomas return after surgery.
These treatment modalities are life-long. Surgery as we all know can be risky in these ferrets.
Dietary modification is the most important adjunctive treatment for ferrets with insulinomas. Ferrets should NOT be fed diets high in carbohydrates or simple sugars. Honey or corn syrup should be rubbed on their gums if you suspect a hypoglycemic event. You should also call your veterinarian immediately. So keep these around the home if you have ferrets 3 years of age or older or those with confirmed insulinomas.
This is a brief article on insulinomas. Please investigate this tumor in ferrets in more detail if you are interested.
The Point Being:
Wouldn’t it be better to try to prevent insulinomas then to try to treat this incurable cancer? As a veterinarian for over 35 years my beliefs lie strongly in preventative medicine. As an owner of 4 ferrets (I mean Slinky Cats) my preference would be to prevent mine from getting this disease so that they would not have to be subjected to surgeries and drugs that have their own negative side-effects.
So here is where our emotional and aesthetic issues come into play. The most appropriate and balanced diet for our obligate carnivorous pet ferrets is a whole prey diet. This includes mice, rats or chicks. This diet provides many benefits such as; exercise, stimulation, healthy gums and teeth and a much smaller stool volume. It is the diet that has been fed to domestic ferrets for the hundreds of years prior to the creation of kibbled diets. Frozen whole diets are also available. As an alternative, the next best choice is to feed a balanced raw carnivore diet. Just as an example, is the Archetypal-1 Diet for ferrets by Wysong which is 99% meat including, cartilage, bone, muscle and fat.
These diets should be started in very young ferrets as it is difficult (but not impossible) to change the diet of older ferrets.The third alternative is kibbled ferret or high protein kitten food. The problem with these foods is that the label does not indicate the digestibility of the percentage of protein added, nor its source, be it animal or plant? So look for ferret or high quality cat/kitten foods which contain animal proteins and very little or no grains, soy protein or fruits. They should also have a protein content of 30% to 40% or higher that is animal protein, 15% to 20% fat and 3% or less fiber.
One last tip…Please be very cautious when choosing ferret treats. Nine out of ten that I have examined have no meat products in them. They are mostly grains and sugars, the very things that promote the formation of pancreatic insulinomas in our ferrets. Use their favorite toy or meat based product, my little guy prefers bacon, instead of a sugar laced treat.
In conclusion, when you see them looking up at you with those sad little eyes begging for their fifth sweet treat of the day, although it may be difficult for you, just reassure them that you are doing it for their own good then bring out their favorite toy for a stimulating play session.
Richard Park Smith, MA, DVM
Christine Newman, RVT
Insulinoma in our Ferrets
Insulinoma in ferrets is as common as Adrenal Disease in our American domesticated ferrets. Insulinomas are cancerous beta cells of the pancreas which over produce insulin. Insulin is responsible for driving blood sugar (glucose) into the cells of the body so that it can be used as an energy source for metabolism. Too much insulin in the body, as in ferrets with insulinomas, causes too much blood sugar to be absorbed from the blood stream into the body’s cells. The consequence is that the blood glucose becomes too low and can threaten the life of the affected ferret as the brain uses only glucose as an energy source.
Cause: In the British Isles, where most pet ferrets are fed a raw meat diet (high in protein and fat, low in carbohydrates and fiber), insulinoma in ferrets is indeed a rare disease. However, recently British veterinarians are noticing an increase in the numbers of ferrets with this disease because as they have discovered more British ferret owners are feeding kibbled cat or ferret food. As ferrets are obligate carnivores, they need a diet which consists of at least 30% to 40% high quality animal protein, 15% to 20% fat and very low amounts of carbohydrates and fiber. This lends to the speculation that American ferrets are fed too many carbohydrates i.e. cereals, poor quality cat or dog foods and are given sugar rich treats. This is what is thought to be the cause of such a high rate of insulinoma tumors in our American ferret population.
Clinical Signs of hypoglycemia caused by Insulinomas
* Hypersalivation
* Overall decrease in energy
* Hindleg weakness
* Wobbling
* Glazed eyes or stuporous appearance
* Increased amount of sleeping
* Seizures in advanced cases
* Coma and death in the end-stages
Diagnosis: Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and blood glucose levels which is a simple 2 to 3 minute test. The normal blood glucose range in ferrets is between 90 to 125 mg/dl. Blood glucose values of less than 70 mg/dl certainly raise the suspicion of insulinomas, especially after a 2 to 4 hour fasting period.
Treatment: Treatment can be medical and/or surgical. Medical treatment consists of giving Prednisone or Prednisolone (a cortisone) to stimulate the production of glucose in the body. This corticosteroid is given twice daily for the rest of the ferret’s life. Injections of cortisones are given during a hypoglycemic crisis as well.
Diazoxide has anti-insulin affects and is added in with Prednisone if and when hypoglycemic episodes return. Note that they do NOT cure this cancerous disease.
Surgery involves cutting out as many tumors as can be seen or can even involve cutting out part of the pancreas itself. Most insulinomas return after surgery.
These treatment modalities are life-long. Surgery as we all know can be risky in these ferrets.
Dietary modification is the most important adjunctive treatment for ferrets with insulinomas. Ferrets should NOT be fed diets high in carbohydrates or simple sugars. Honey or corn syrup should be rubbed on their gums if you suspect a hypoglycemic event. You should also call your veterinarian immediately. So keep these around the home if you have ferrets 3 years of age or older or those with confirmed insulinomas.
This is a brief article on insulinomas. Please investigate this tumor in ferrets in more detail if you are interested.
The Point Being:
Wouldn’t it be better to try to prevent insulinomas then to try to treat this incurable cancer? As a veterinarian for over 35 years my beliefs lie strongly in preventative medicine. As an owner of 4 ferrets (I mean Slinky Cats) my preference would be to prevent mine from getting this disease so that they would not have to be subjected to surgeries and drugs that have their own negative side-effects.
So here is where our emotional and aesthetic issues come into play. The most appropriate and balanced diet for our obligate carnivorous pet ferrets is a whole prey diet. This includes mice, rats or chicks. This diet provides many benefits such as; exercise, stimulation, healthy gums and teeth and a much smaller stool volume. It is the diet that has been fed to domestic ferrets for the hundreds of years prior to the creation of kibbled diets. Frozen whole diets are also available. As an alternative, the next best choice is to feed a balanced raw carnivore diet. Just as an example, is the Archetypal-1 Diet for ferrets by Wysong which is 99% meat including, cartilage, bone, muscle and fat.
These diets should be started in very young ferrets as it is difficult (but not impossible) to change the diet of older ferrets.The third alternative is kibbled ferret or high protein kitten food. The problem with these foods is that the label does not indicate the digestibility of the percentage of protein added, nor its source, be it animal or plant? So look for ferret or high quality cat/kitten foods which contain animal proteins and very little or no grains, soy protein or fruits. They should also have a protein content of 30% to 40% or higher that is animal protein, 15% to 20% fat and 3% or less fiber.
One last tip…Please be very cautious when choosing ferret treats. Nine out of ten that I have examined have no meat products in them. They are mostly grains and sugars, the very things that promote the formation of pancreatic insulinomas in our ferrets. Use their favorite toy or meat based product, my little guy prefers bacon, instead of a sugar laced treat.
In conclusion, when you see them looking up at you with those sad little eyes begging for their fifth sweet treat of the day, although it may be difficult for you, just reassure them that you are doing it for their own good then bring out their favorite toy for a stimulating play session.
Richard Park Smith, MA, DVM
Christine Newman, RVT