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Post by katt on Feb 19, 2011 15:26:27 GMT -5
I pay $30 for each Lupron shot, but I also have to pay to have it shipped here from the pharmacy every 3 months or however much I order. Do you order it for yourself, and then inject it yourself? That would be cheaper....
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Post by goingpostal on Feb 19, 2011 15:42:17 GMT -5
I call the vet, they call in the rx to the pharmacy and I pay the pharmacy, my vet is 2.5 hours away so bringing them in for shots isn't really doable. My vet showed me how to and had me pratice on Pip when we first put him on it. I have James hold and distract him while I inject him.
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Post by joclyn on Feb 19, 2011 20:42:51 GMT -5
lupron comes in a one-month and three-month version (and also comes as plain luprolide which you do not want to use since it's just the one med w/o the additional thing to make it time-released).
i asked about the 3-month depot once and that vet didn't want to do it since she wanted to keep better tabs on them (iow, wanted to do a status check & quick physical every month). so, i have no idea how much it would cost for that one.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2011 3:48:52 GMT -5
What your vet said about the Deslorelin sounds absolutely nuts to me, maybe I'm way off here but my vet uses them all the time, they're getting a new shipment in and it's frequently used to treat ferrets there - she thinks highly of it and didn't say one word about it being risky to me or the ferret having to go under! I too got the impression of it being like a micro-chip. My reason for using one is as an alternative to spay/neuter and it can last for SIX-TWELVE months. They've only used it there for adrenal but can use it for both...
Can you find a different vet that uses them more? Can you ask her for a quote on what the total would be and assume it lasts six months, then compare costs to Lupron, I'm wondering?
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Post by Heather on Feb 20, 2011 12:02:12 GMT -5
I paid $48 for the lupron shot, which seems to go in line with what everyone else is paying and yes it's monthly. The des shot?? don't know yet. My vet still hasn't billed me. Surprise There is no need for anesthesia, it is a horrible looking needle but it's not that big. My littlest one just got her shot. Little Pooka tried to bite me for it but that's it. She forgave me by the time we were out of the vet's office. She didn't even pee on us (she did for her lupron) The vet did add a dab of surgical glue to make sure that the implant didn't fall out, but that was the only precaution. I've got 4 fuzzes on deslorin right now. No, controlling adrenal doesn't come cheap. I certainly wouldn't bother with all the blood work (Tennessee panel) that would cut out some of the cost. My vet was a real stick in the mud with this one. I had to do my homework, but so did she. She has worked with des before (it's used on dogs and a form of it is used on horses). She's still not on board with it for being used as a chemical castration but she thinks there are huge benefits for it in lieu of surgery for these little ones. That's what you really have to look at. What are the costs of surgery and the risks. I took in Jennifer's report on what she had discovered for her little ones. Canada is the so-called hold out with this drug, calling it experimental in it's dealings with ferrets. The paperwork was done and back within a week. There is paperwork that has to be done by the vet and I've been hearing that some vets are a bit sticky about that. My vet never blinked an eye about the paperwork, she said she's dealt with a lot worse. The 2 ladies that you have to contact were very precise about what had to be done and how to go about it. I've seen some really great improvements and not so good with my guys first implants. Pooka looks great, she has a gorgeous winter coat, so soft and fluffy, but she still not feeling really well but she had no other choice. The Lupron was only working for about 2 weeks at this point. She's also been adrenal for about 3 years, possibly a bit longer. Captain Jack looks and acts fantastic. It really was the potion for him. He's stopped humping everyone too. Little Sprite, is coming along. She's more active but is on the wait and see. Lady "B"....nothing yet Unfortunately, for her...this may mean that the tumours are malignant I can't see that the risks are any higher than with any other so called solution for adrenal. I won't do surgery because of the risks and the fact that it does only buy time, same as the rest of the "cures". So, even if I do surgery....I will have to deal with the chemical part in the end anyway....so I chose the least invasive. ciao
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Post by Sherry on Feb 20, 2011 12:03:27 GMT -5
Here is the response from peptech: *How is the implant administered? (is there a special injector provided with each implant?)
The implantation procedure is the same as implanting a microchip. It is implanted with the actuator (provided) subcutaneously between the shoulder blades. *
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Post by miamiferret2 on Feb 20, 2011 12:29:07 GMT -5
i would go with deslorelin. you do not need to put a ferret under anesthesia for the implant. that is ridiculous. it is a huge needle but they can take it. it is very quick. it is kind of like the implants that they use for pet identification. if you cannot obtain deslorelin, then i think that the one month lupron is better. my vet does not like the 3 month lupron. i agree with joclyn. i HATE adrenal disease more than i hate insulinoma. i hate it so much that i had my baby boy implanted last month at 6 months of age. at least insulinoma you can make sure they eat right, give meds, etc. and manage BG. but with adrenal disease it just wreaks havoc on their bodies and there is really nothing you can do but give lupron, melatonin and/or deslorelin and wait until those medications stop working. the adrenalectomies really don't work. the tumors will usually grow back. when the medications stop working, then you see the disease for what it really is. it causes severe muscle wasting, weakness, ulcers in their stomach, enlarged prostates. with males i find that it is especially difficult because of the enlarged prostates, prostatic cysts, etc. it is very painful for them. it causes urinary infections. just awful. none of the prostate reducing medications have worked for me. the last adrenal ferret i had started to show seasonal signs at about age 2 and 1/2. started losing hair on his tail at about age 5. was on melatonin alone then when that stopped working, we added lupron once a month. when lupron stopped working we ordered deslorelin. deslorelin is much less expensive in the long run. my vet pays i think $80 to $90 for each implant from peptech. so if they mark it up expect to pay 120 to 150. but it lasts alot longer. lupron is once a month at about $50 a month. i have seen ferrets show adrenal signs at less than 2 years of age. so it does happen. the fast dooking sound and mounting behavior is a classic sign and i find that you will often see those signs before you ever see hair loss. but some owners shrug it off and ignore. so it is good that you are very alert to your ferret's behavior and were able to notice this early. i think the earlier you act, the better off they will be. although they showed signs of being intact, none of my adrenal males ever actually penetrated with their penis. i never even saw their penis come out actually. what they do is they mount the other ferret and then they kind of relax a little bit and they put their head/neck down like in a hook shape, i think that is to fool the other ferret. and when you see this you think "oh how cute he wants to cuddle." but then they grab onto the other ferret and shake. then they kind of use their feet for leverage to get a good position. hard to explain. what i have noticed also is that they smell alot more musky. they almost smell like intact ferrets when they have adrenal tumors. males get downright stinky and they product ALOT more ear wax than a non-adrenal ferret. don't know why that is exactly. if you can find them, buy full spectrum light bulbs for your room. my vet once told me that typically 2 years is the average that they can go with medications for adrenal tumors until the meds stop working. i have also read this in a few places. (this is 2 yrs from the point that you begin to see hair loss, etc.) although personally i have managed adrenal ferrets for more than 3 years. i see that you feed raw and i think that helps IMMENSELY. it really does make a huge difference. don't despair. there is alot that you can do.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2011 23:25:58 GMT -5
What has your vet been smoking? I've heard NOTHING about Des. unmasking insulinoma - besides, Koda is young and has been on raw for most of hi life. Ask your vet why the Des. may be risky - the two drugs are in the same class of medication - both are anti-GnRH that affect the pituitary. Sounds like a steaming crock to me. Ask for details. Shipping to US (contiguous states) costs approx 80. USD. I want to think that that an implant cost about 37. USD, but I coudl be TOTALLY wrong on this. I have this recorded in a Word doc. But, Word seems to be "effed" up on my system. Ned to get my admin (the hubby) to deal with it. Yes, I work with computers - but NOT PC's. -jennifer
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2011 23:46:29 GMT -5
the other thing....I asked about my now-retired, fert-expert, sweet-and-wonderful vet and friend id making the incision for the implant made a difference. He said he couldn't see why it would matter (I had heard this "incision thing" before, so I asked.)
We did use a whiff of gas for the comfort of the animal - and my brats are REALLY difficult to restrain when pissed off. Although he's submissive, Shaman has hardly any scruff at all, - and he's VERY STRONG and impossible to restrain. On the other side of the spectrum, Tomichi is the Alpha Queen Bee with snapping turtle blood lines when she's mad as h*ll. Then there's Princess Kachina who acts like you're trying to drown her if you give her a bath. And Tonto, ....LOL...he'll just GET REVENGE at a later date in time ....LOL...Tonto is VERY CREATIVE with revenge!!!!! You don't NEED to use gas, but it makes everth less traumatic.
You have to use surgical glue to seal the opening since I think it's a 14-gauge needle that's used for the implant. The d*mn thing can "back out" and get lost if you don't . Other vets may simply use incision/stitches. Th implants migrate a bit anyway, so surgical implantation seems pointless - plus he probably shave some fur with the surgical method.
-jennifer
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Post by acodlin on Feb 21, 2011 11:02:34 GMT -5
Heather how long ago did your ferrets get the implant? it took a month for real hair growth to start on Dean and its been another 3 weeks and he's still not quite where he was before energy wise. He lost weight and all he wanted to do was sleep but hes starting to come around.
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Post by Heather on Feb 21, 2011 15:34:25 GMT -5
Sprite and Captain Jack got their implants on the first of Feb and Lady "B" and Pooka got theirs on the 8th. As good as Pooka was doing yesterday, she's on syringe feeding today. She's a real rollercoaster. I think her age is also catching up with her. She looks gorgeous but she's a really sick fuzz. It shows in her eyes . ciao
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Post by katt on Feb 22, 2011 2:05:40 GMT -5
Thanks for all of the input guys, it has been really helpful. But of course I have a billion more questions and will come up with more as I go. If I get Lupron as a preventative for Kenai, will that rule it out as a treatment later? They both are scheduled for a shot next Wed. March 4th or something like that. Also, after Koda;s initial shot, should I wait for it to wear off and see how he does? Or should I keep going with the monthly until I can get a des implant?
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Post by Sherry on Feb 22, 2011 10:05:42 GMT -5
Sinnead has been on lupron for two years, monthly shots, before it quit working for her. So I'm thinking 2-4 months of preventative shouldn't cause too much of a resistance to it.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 22, 2011 14:47:19 GMT -5
Do not wait for symptoms to reappear before giving the next shot. Space the shots out approx. 30-days - a few days here and there will not matter. You just want to sty on that monthly schedule.
-jennifer
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Post by katt on Feb 22, 2011 14:51:19 GMT -5
Do not wait for symptoms to reappear before giving the next shot. Space the shots out approx. 30-days - a few days here and there will not matter. You just want to sty on that monthly schedule. -jennifer But why? If it IS just a seasonal thing and he's just feeling a bit frisky, rather than actual adrenal, won't one month do it? Like the preventative? And if it starts back up we know it is not just seasonal hormones, but adrenal that needs to be treated? That is my thinking with that...
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