From:
courtney.leborious@aoltw.com
Date: 2003-10-14 17:15:23 UTC
Subject: proglycem or prednisone
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <5602219.1066151723393.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
PROGLYCEM OR PREDNISONE for INSULINOMIC FERRET
I will try to be brief. You have helped me so much in the past, thank you!=
My ferret, Cola, is happy and healthy, except for a breathing problem. I f=
irst noticed this about a year ago. She gasps and pushes air sometimes dur=
ing eating, sometimes after eating, while laying in her hammock after eatin=
g, or sometimes just while laying down. It sounds like =93hhhhheeeya=94, o=
r rapid like =93eh, eh, eha=94.
Brief history: Due to slight foot drag, Diagnosed with insulinoma 1 year a=
go. On low dose of prednisone since then, current dose is 0.4 mg /day (liq=
uid suspension =96 4 mg/ml, .10 cc/day)
Wrote last June about swollen pockets near neck and breathing problems. Vet=
thinks its fat deposits. Has had neck lymph-area swelling for over 1 year=
, and since she did not begin to waste he is convinced therefore just fat.
Here were her Blood Values from June, 2003 - =
Everything was in normal range, except for following: =
Chem Panel =
CK 966 (high) =
Protein 8.0 (high) =
Globulin 4.2 (high) =
Glucose 71 (low) =
Calcium 10.1 (high) =
CBC =
WBC 7.1 (high) =
RBC 12.30 (high) =
HGB 19.7 (high) =
HCT 62.6 (high) =
MCV 51 (?) =
MCH 16.1 (?) =
MCHC 31.4 (?) =
Neutrophil Seg 63 (high) =
Monocytes 4 (high) =
Eosinophil 5 (high) =
Auto platelet adequate =
polychromasia slight
Saw vet again last Saturday. She has gained a lot of weight: Currently wei=
ghs 3 lb.s. Also, her fasting glucose was 60. Took another x-ray, vet thi=
nks x-ray looks like fat deposits also building around heart and lungs(inco=
nclusive, vet can=92t get a good x-ray of her)
***The vet suggests that we switch to proglycem since prednisone can cause =
fat to deposit.
Concerns:
1. Happy, healthy other than breathing difficulties. She is on a very low =
dosage of prednisone. Should I upset this balance? It seems in terms of t=
he blood sugar she is responding ok to pred, no ulcers / able to keep dose =
low. Is fat build up inevitable, and degenerative? If advice is to keep h=
er on prednisone, when should I consider switching?
2. Other side effects of proglycem: Nausea. How likely, is it worth it? (=
absolutely don't want to put her through any nausea, if poss)
3. Has anyone else had similar experience? Is my vet on the right track wi=
th thinking fat deposit near heart and lungs? =
4. I am still concerned about those large pockets on her neck, but he reall=
y does not want to remove them. =
Thank you, thank you!
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