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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2017 20:29:45 GMT -5
Hey guys I have a ferret that is about 2 months old right now, I am thinking about getting him a DES implant and I read on a older thread on here that if you are using DES implants in order to prevent rather than treat adrenal then it is best to do before they are one year old because their first fall or winter or whatever they have a hormone surge, im not sure if the vet by me does it before 3 years of age, but im going to find out and think about getting him one, I just dont know because I have no idea where I will be in 2-3-4-5 years etc. So if worst case scenario happened and I got him an implant then was unable to get him reimplanted the following year, would it cause adverse reactions or throw his hormones out of whack? Im still just looking into the idea I havnt made any decision yet, but then again 250 (the price of the vet by me) once a year doesnt seem like something I wouldnt be able to manage
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Post by Heather on Mar 26, 2017 0:51:55 GMT -5
It's actually very simple. If you miss giving the implant or you stop giving it and you're using it for preventive then your ferret is then set up to get adrenal. It will only work as long as you follow through. Are there any other side effects....no. Your ferret will continue just like nothing has changed but his hormones will kick in the following year and will not kick off. If you do stop giving you will eventually have to use it to fight adrenal but the time line is unknown as to how long you have. It is assumed that it will be as if you altered and you will have 2 to 5 yrs before symptoms manifest
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2017 16:25:54 GMT -5
Hey thanks for the reply but sorry im not sure I understand, on one hand it seems like you're saying there would be no consequences and on the other it sounds like you're saying it would give him adrenal as a for sure thing, I know that ive read adrenal affects as many as 70% of ferrets but im hoping even if I choose not to get the implants he can beat those odds, im not sure if you're saying that missing one will give him adrenal or if by giving him an implant then stopping it will just allow his potential of developing adrenal to continue by temporarily delaying it.
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Post by Heather on Mar 26, 2017 17:03:55 GMT -5
Sorry....if it seems confusing but it is, sort of. All altered ferrets eventually come down with adrenal disease, it's just a matter of timing. According to studies, if just surgically castrated a ferret will develop adrenal disease 2 to 5 yrs after castration (the length of time it takes depends on genetics and husbandry). The DES implant if given annually from the first year of the surgical castration will prevent (according to studies) adrenal from happening. If you choose to stop implanting, then all that happens is that from the point in time that you stop implanting the clock starts to tick in regards to the whole adrenal issue. As far as side effect of the immediate stopping of the DES (are they going to become immediately ill, lethargic, develop ulcers), there are none. It's a long term problem. What can't be answered is if you stop implanting for a year or so and then start implanting again. Does it still prevent or are you actually just postponing symptoms. I can't answer that one  ciao |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2017 18:45:45 GMT -5
Ah I understand now thanks a ton, on that note I am going to probably get him implanted if I can find a vet that will do it before 3 years of age, thanks.
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Post by Heather on Mar 27, 2017 13:51:38 GMT -5
Please understand for the implant to be effective as a preventative, it must be given within that first year. The timing within that year still has some discrepancies but it must be given the first year for it to be effective. Once you go past that year, you may indeed be actually wasting your money.
The timing that is causing the issue is....should it be given before the season begins in the spring or in the fall when the season is supposed to end. I consider the fall when the season is supposed to end makes the most sense but that is the time frame you're working within. Implantation for prevention must be given within the first year of alter, either before or after their first season (depending on your thoughts, I have no proof except theories on this) or immediately after the spay or neuter if the ferret is intact.
ciao
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Post by unclejoe on Mar 27, 2017 19:08:07 GMT -5
Kahlua was our first ferret to get Des as a treatment for adrenal. She had 2 implants 3 years apart. Her fur was full and fluffy when she died at 8 years old. We're not sure exactly why she died, but at 8+, "old age," i.e. "natural causes" was suspected. She also had insulinoma.
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