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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2011 22:10:27 GMT -5
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Post by Sherry on Mar 8, 2011 22:31:04 GMT -5
I've not dealt with insulinoma(thank heavens!), but I tend to doubt sources who have other info wrong. *Insulinomas are malignant cancers of the pancreas* I may be wrong, but was under the impression these tumors were benign for the most part? *Routine diet recommendations for ferrets with insulinomas include the use of commercial diets with the addition of Ensure® or other similar liquid diet when the ferret does not eat.* Ensure and the like are generally higher in sugars. *We recommend Feline Multiple Geriatric Vitamin as an excellent addition to their diet as well.* They sell this product. They also sell the other products they recommend. Sorry- they may indeed be on the "up and up", and entirely legit, but I'm a tad cynical when I find misstatements, coupled with the fact they sell the products they are recommending  Colour me paranoid  Forgot to mention- they do get a good deal of other info correct! |
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Post by Heather on Mar 9, 2011 0:39:00 GMT -5
This is one question that I would put to the ferrethealth list or your vet. This is not something I would experiment with. I do know there is an alternative that has become reasonably successful but I don't think it is considered an equal alternative to pred. and has been used if the ferret fails to respond to the pred or is no longer responding. This is a very well written article about insulinoma. It is dated, especially in regards to surgery being the primary solution and you will note the age to which this horrible disease is seen in ferrets, but it does give a very graphic outline as to what it is and how it effects a ferret. www.afip.org/consultation/vetpath/ferrets/PDF/insulinoma.pdfciao |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2011 8:22:42 GMT -5
I know there is one study that is being done. They are seeing good result in using vanadyl Sulfate. Just wondering if anyone else has heard of this supplement or has used it.
No, you never want go thru insulinoma it's a horrible disease. Been down that road before....don't want to take that detour again.
Thanks for your inputs.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2011 11:29:53 GMT -5
I am on my second insulinomic ferret. The first we treated with prednisone and it really helped his symptoms, but seemed to build up a tolerance to it rather quickly. We have just started our second one on pred and so far aren't really seeing any results. Its a really tricky illness especially when the adrenal is present too. What are you doing for it now?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2011 12:28:25 GMT -5
My little guy has since passed away form insulinoma. I am sorry to hear that you are going thru your 2nd one.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 1:17:02 GMT -5
Based on what I've read, most insulinomas in ferrets tend to be cancerous. However, the cancers are not highly metastatic in nature. I have heard of vanoxyl for use in ferret insulinoma since Dr. McCluggage is my holistic/wellness vet. -jennifer |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2011 10:43:48 GMT -5
Jennifier - What are results that your vet is seeing in using vanoxyl?
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Post by weezz on Mar 12, 2011 13:47:07 GMT -5
Sorry, I've never heard of it.
Ensure? I'd be wary of using it, I keep whatever sugars I can away from the ferrets, along with grains.
I've also read where brewers yeast can be used and works for insulinoma/diabetic ferrets for regulating blood sugar, but they say not use it?
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Post by Heather on Mar 12, 2011 19:26:38 GMT -5
You should never use brewers yeast as it doesn't raise or stabilize but actually drops the blood sugar. This is the last thing you want to do. If you have the book Ferrets for Dummies by Kim Schilling on page 282 under warning...."People often recommend that you add Brewer's Yeast to the insulinoma patient's diet. I suggest that you do not do this . The chromium in Brewer's Yeast has been shown to actually lower blood sugar levels as opposed to stabilizing them, as once thought".
ciao
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