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Post by sherik on Feb 23, 2011 15:57:40 GMT -5
Don't give up. I know how hard it can be, trust me. I have one who is the same way. Some days he will eat great and other days not so great. I've resorted to spoon feeding on the bad days too. With Huck, I will do 3-4 meals. 2oz(4 tablespoons), every time. Keeping in mind that his soup is watered down, cause he will not eat it thick either. He went the longest, for a week, where I didn't have to spoon feed him. So just keep doing what you are doing, and it will happen for you. I wouldn't blame the pred for the death of your little one. I had one on a high dose of pred for two years, she finally got a bacterial infection. And yes, if she wasn't on the pred she wouldn't have gotten it. But she also would have probably died long before.
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Post by taratee on Feb 23, 2011 15:57:50 GMT -5
everyone has those days where you want to throw in the towel, even now when my guys arent eating kibble i sitll wanna throw in the towel i think everyones had one of those days thats why we are here to tell you its ok and share our stories so you dont feel alone in your battle
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Post by Sherry on Feb 23, 2011 17:56:14 GMT -5
Can you talk your vet into at least lupron? You can give both lupron and pred, no problem there. And it's going to quite likely help her feel much better. As for the frustrations with the diet switch, I know exactly where you are coming from there. Boris was only 9 months old when I switched mine, using a soup. It took that little beggar 6 weeks of daily scruffing and stuffing before he'd admit it wasn't actually poison, and after that- he took off with it ;D
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 18:19:48 GMT -5
Thank you so much everyone for the help. Wouldn't you know I added more water and they are eating it again! They still eat dry sometimes but the kit really doesn't care for it much. So I'm glad about that.
I took Mabel in to the vet and we are starting her on prednisone (its on order so maybe sometime next week). I also found a vet who has deslorelin!! I can't believe it. They said it would be $175 for the implant and that it lasts from 9 months to several years. I am thinking I will do it, but I want to know some things first. Will the deslorelin do anything besides make her hair grow back? She hasn't been wanting to be handled much anymore. Is that an adrenal symptom? Also, the deslorelin won't stop the adrenal from killing her, will it? I'm under the impression that deslorelin and lupron are like rubbing rograin on your head when you have cancer. Am I right?
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Post by goingpostal on Feb 25, 2011 18:47:10 GMT -5
You can normally get pediapred at any pharmacy for cheaper if they will just give you the rx. That's what my vet does as through them it is a lot more expensive.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 25, 2011 19:06:40 GMT -5
As for the des or the lupron, it does help to reduce the size of the tumors, and slow their growth. So it doesn't just mask the symptoms. That said, however- it will not get rid of the tumors. She will still be adrenal, and sooner or later, they will stop working, and you'll have to take it up a level. Sinnead has had 2 good years on just lupron, back to normal, feeling great, fur growth, etc. Now I've had to have the melatonin implant(my vet's procrastinating about the des ). And she's feeling better again. Personally, if it helps them feel better, controls behaviours, etc- it's worth every penny! Not wanting to be handled could well be a part of the adrenal. Not all ferrets become aggressive. Athena became very timid, always hiding, trembling, etc. With lupron, she's back to her overbearing self
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 20:51:44 GMT -5
Oh wow. I didn't realize it slowed the growth or reduced the size of tumors. I will absolutely 100% do this. I can't thank everyone here enough. For the encouragement and advice both!!!!
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2011 21:20:41 GMT -5
No problem :-) keep us posted
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Post by Sherry on Feb 26, 2011 0:36:11 GMT -5
Here's an excerpt from Ferret Universe( www.ferretuniverse.com/health/adrenal.asp ): If your ferret is not a good candidate for surgery, usually due to age, overall health, and/or other medical conditions, your ferret will most likely be treated by drug therapy using Lupron Depot. During normal function, the hypothalamus produces GnRH which is released to the pituitary gland in a pulsating release which signals the release of both LH and FSH (primarily LH) which tells the gonads and the adrenal glands to produce the sex hormones. Lupron Depot (GnRH analog) works by binding to pituitary receptors. Lupron sends a steady stream of GnRH to the pituitary which becomes desensitized and stops producing LH and FSH (the pituitary can only handle the pulsating signals). By suppressing LH & FSH from being produced, the sex hormones will also stop being produced in response. With continued use, the decrease in hormones being produced have lasted for more than 5 years and results being seen as early as 2-4 weeks. During this time, the vulva will return to normal size, hair loss will stop and within 1-2 months hair regrowth will begin. This one doesn't mention the tumors shrinking somewhat. I'll keep looking til I find that one.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 26, 2011 17:11:24 GMT -5
Yes, I've read over that website many times before. I hadn't seen anything about shrinking or slowing growth of tumors before. I spent a good deal of time reading up on it in the past but have forgotten some things. I'm sure I haven't learned all there is to know about it either!
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Post by miamiferret2 on Feb 26, 2011 17:26:22 GMT -5
Your vet doesn't need to wait to treat adrenal. You should not wait.
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Post by Sherry on Feb 26, 2011 18:05:54 GMT -5
I can't find it! I know I read it somewhere Either/or, the lupron, or even the melatonin will make a real difference for your fuzz, and can be used in conjunction with one another.
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