Deslorelin Experiences?

[Deleted]

1) How did you hear about Deslorelin
Through the HFF before, and when we went to the vet, they told us about it also. Only they use Superlorin.

2) What was your vet's take on it
She was all for it. She basically told us that the only negative part about it is you can't know how long it will last for ferrets. For everything else she much prefers the implant. One of her strongest points was that the implant gives a regular dose to the ferret and will most likely last for up to 6-8 months, as with the Lupron, it is injected monthly and it is less regulated. Another strong point for her is that a lurpon shot is 80$ CA, so within two months, you have payed for the implant, which costs 170$.

3) How many ferrets you have tried it on
Only my Meeko. She's showing tipical Adrenal hair loss, but nothing else.

4) What results you saw, and how long it took for them to show up
It took 5 months to kick in. We started seeing loads of fur coming in small patches... then more patches and more patches... it's been two weeks since it started, and she's doubled the amount of fur she had. Still missing lots, but loads are still coming in.

5) Any treatments you have supported the Des with
None.

6) Have you had a ferret in which it did NOT work, and if so how did you proceed?
N/A yet. I will update this post in time.

7) Any side effects you may have noticed
N/A yet. I will upIdate this post in time.

8) Cost you paid for implant, include any fees that had to go with it.
I payed 170$ CA for the implant, and 78$ CA for the vet visit. Total of approx 260 plus tax.

[Deleted]

Background: Our ferret Daisy, a silver mitt who is around 6 1/2, started showing signs of adrenal disease about 2 years ago. It started with moodiness--she has always been the queen bee/alpha, but she became a real b*tch with our other 3 boys. First step was a melatonin implant. We had another adrenal boy (who died last January at age 10!) who responded well to melatonin, but it had to impact on Daisy. We tried Lupron for 3 rounds, and nothing. By last spring she'd lost all of her undercoat and her tail fur to about 1/2 inch below her butt. And she did nothing but sleep.


1) How did you hear about Deslorelin

Several people in our local ferret club started talking about it in fall 2012.

2) What was your vet's take on it

He was the first in Colorado to bring it in.

3) How many ferrets you have tried it on

1

4) What results you saw, and how long it took for them to show up

Within 6 weeks, her moodiness and exhaustion were resolved by about 50%. She actually started to play a little again.

Within 2 months we saw significant hair regrowth on her tail.

Within 4 months her coat is back to near-normal, she has the same amount of energy as our 3 year old, she's playing and she's not hardly moody at all.

5) Any treatments you have supported the Des with

We feed a cooked soup (not yet switched to raw) that's about 30% baby food and 70% kibble

6) Have you had a ferret in which it did NOT work, and if so how did you proceed?

none

7) Any side effects you may have noticed
None

8) Cost you paid for implant, include any fees that had to go with it.
$185 total for the implant and the visit
Read more: holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/7619/deslorelin-experiences#ixzz2Z5ice2e6

[Deleted]

1) How did you hear about Deslorelin
This forum! I read everything I could about it, because I didn't like the idea of surgery or a monthly shot, and this seemed to be not only the most cost-effective, but also the best treatment option.

2) What was your vet's take on it
The vet I got the Deslorelin from was a big fan of it, and has seen great, long-lasting results.

3) How many ferrets you have tried it on
Just one, my 2.5 year old Dexter

4) What results you saw, and how long it took for them to show up
N/A (Just implanted today, will update when I start seeing changes!)
EDIT: As of Aug. 9 (almost 3 weeks after implantation), we have hair regrowth at the implantation site!! His energy is back to normal, and his appetite is increasing! The "wasted" appearance is diminishing as well.

5) Any treatments you have supported the Des with
I plan to supplement with Reishi to alleviate his itchiness and for general immune support

6) Have you had a ferret in which it did NOT work, and if so how did you proceed?
N/A

7) Any side effects you may have noticed
None.
UPDATE 7/23: It's been 3 days since he received the implant and his energy level still seems lowered. He's more cuddly and spends a lot more time just wandering around when he's out playing (before the implant he was usually always jumping and war dancing all over the place). Not sure if this is just the progression of the adrenal since the implant hasn't had time to kick in yet, or a side effect of the implant itself. Appetite seemed decreased at first too, but it's slowly returning to normal.

8) Cost you paid for implant, include any fees that had to go with it.
$200 for implant, plus $67 for exam fee

[Deleted]

Great topic, very informative! Before answering I have to stress that average salary in Croatia (monthly) totals 980 US dollars, just for you to get the idea regarding prices I'll put in one of my answers. 1 liter of gasoline costs 1,90 USD; liter is 0,26 US gallons. All of the prices I listed include 25% tax.

1) How did you hear about Deslorelin


From vet on University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, who treated some of our ferrets, 2009.

2) What was your vet's take on it


Our vet in Croatia told us it still isn't registered here but he expressed preparedness to use it if we bring it. First ferret who was implanted was Valkyra in december 2009. in Ljubljana, other ferrets were implanted in Croatia.

3) How many ferrets you have tried it on

9

4) What results you saw, and how long it took for them to show up

Hair re-growth, decrese in abdominal swelling, weight gain, less itching and scratching, less scaly skin, termination of urine drinking. Hormone levels checkups presented normal ranges.


5) Any treatments you have supported the Des with


No.

6) Have you had a ferret in which it did NOT work, and if so how did you proceed?


I worked in most of them who had enough time left to present the effects. Since most of those 9 implanted ferrets suffered/suffer both insulinoma and adrenal, some of them were/are on insulinoma meds for year or two before being implanted and those meds already done damage, mostly to gastrointestinal system  (regardless of sucralfate use for protection, b komplex, silimarine powder and so on) so there were few who passed before getting chance for implant to kick in. 3 of them passed only a month or two after the implantation.

7) Any side effects you may have noticed


Kiara and Ram had swelling at the implantation site but in a day or two we got rid of it putting ice bags on the swelling.
Other than that - none.


8) Cost you paid for implant, include any fees that had to go with it


First implant in Slovenia 50 euros (70 USD)
Second batch in Croatia 3200 HRK (580 USD) - 5 implants imported from Austria
Third batch - we travelled to vet office recomended by Austrian Virbac HQ in Vienna to get them, 8 hours travel - 7 implants 430 eur (700 USD) + gas to Vienna (140 USD for 15,85 US gallons) and motorway toll (Slovenia annual prepaid ticket 140 USD and Austria weekly prepaid ticket 14 USD). It was convenient for us to get the implants there since we travelled to see gigs by US bands Five finger death punch and Avenged Sevenfold, it was the opportunity of a lifetime to see them live  
We took one 5 pieces implants pack and vet added 2 more from other 5 pieces pack in order for the price to be more favourable for us. It was very generous of him. 

As for the implantation procedure itself, we pay 18 USD for Sevoflourane inhalatory anestetic and 2 dollars for sewing. The procedure is done in such manner ferrets is put under Sevoflourane anesteshia, a small cut made between shoulders, implant pushed in with applicator and than cut sewed with one or two stitches. In 10 days I remove the stitches at home. 

We check blood hormone levels for ferrets older than 3 years and procedure costs us 80 USD (blood drawing and centrifuge is 25 USD), lab work for estradiol and androstedion is 55 USD. I get results via email in few hours time.

[unclejoe]

This thread is a great idea. It gives us somewhere to direct people who have questions. Idk how many posts I've answered regarding des/Suprelorin.


1) How did you hear about Deslorelin
I'm not sure if it was this forum or Ferret-Universe.com in 2009. Dar24 had already gotten it for Kahlua then, before we met. In Fall, 2010 I did a research presentation on Suprelorin F for a college chemistry class. That was before it was available in the US.

2) What was your vet's take on it
At that time neither of my vets had heard of it. It was difficult at best to get in the US. I now have a vet who has gotten it for us, and only us. She said she had a "research colony" of ferrets in vet school and is very enthusiastic about using it.

3) How many ferrets you have tried it on
2 so far. One will be getting it in the near future.

4) What results you saw, and how long it took for them to show up
Kahlua had very thin fur when she got her first. She had 2 Luprons before she got des. It took a couple months but her fur grew back full and soft. She only had 2 implants in 5 years but died with a full coat at 8 yo.

6) Have you had a ferret in which it did NOT work, and if so how did you proceed?
Poppy got her Suprelorin F in Aug 2013. Her vulva has gone down considerably, but not completely. She has not had Lupron. Her fur is softer but her tail fur is still thin. We're looking into getting Lupron for a boost. I won't say it didn't work but I was hoping for better results by now. At least she has not gotten worse.

8) Cost you paid for implant, include any fees that had to go with it
Dar paid $240 Canadian in Spring 2011, which I assume included shiping from Australia. Poppy's was $190USD in Aug 2013. With vet costs it was around $250USD total.

[Deleted]

1) How did you hear about Deslorelin
The Holistic Ferret Facebook group/forum

2) What was your vet's take on it
She first prescribed her melatonin but when I inquired about Des she approved..it was never mentioned as an option and if I hadn't have said anything, I'm confident I would still be giving her melatonin.

3) How many ferrets you have tried it on
One

4) What results you saw, and how long it took for them to show up
In eight weeks her hair grew back and she became less 'aggressive' (she wasn't aggressive per say, she just liked to play a bit more rough) 

5) Any treatments you have supported the Des with
No, ceased giving melatonin once implant was in.

6) Have you had a ferret in which it did NOT work, and if so how did you proceed?
N/A

7) Any side effects you may have noticed
No.


8) Cost you paid for implant, include any fees that had to go with it.
$100 total...not bad considering I was paying $60/month for chicken flavored melatonin

[Deleted]

I forgot to ask...what are some signs of adrenal breakthrough..

[Sherry]

Aggressive adrenal disease symptoms. Mounting, hair loss, etc