Zoo's Ferret Sanctuary |
Our grant was used to purchase four month lupron depots for Duke & Felicia.
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Duke is an older ferret with insulinoma, and isn`t a good surgical candidate. However, he was digging his bald skin nearly to death, because of the insane itchiness caused by adrenal disease. With male ferrets, there is always the fear/possibility/potential for urinary blockage because of an enlarged prostate, which is often caused by adrenal disease. This can cause much discomfort, & a very painful death. Many ferrets become aggressive when they are adrenal. We did not see this with Duke. Duke was already on lupron, when we received this grant, but it was wearing off, & symptoms were beginning to reappear. He was balding again---and this was only the OUTWARD sign...He is now beginning to regrow his fur, as evidenced by this picture!
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Felicia also has adrenal disease. She too, had received lupron, several months ago--and hers was wearing off as well. She never lost her beautiful champagne fur, but she was horribly itchy, & her vulva was swollen to the size of a grape. For those of you who are unaware of what adrenal disease can do to a ferret---it often causes "mating" type behavior--even if the ferret is fixed. Felicia was exhibiting signs of going into season, although the "equipment" wasn`t there! Her skin was extremely itchy, she had a strong odor about her, the vulva was terribly swollen (and painful!) She was subject to frequent infections. AND---she became so aggressive with all the other ferrets that she had to be separated from her group. She was absolutely vicious!!! Felicia is now able to rejoin her group, and have others to play with, & cuddle. She has her life back!
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We at Zoo`s Ferret Sanctuary have put many, many ferrets through adrenal surgery---only to see the disease return later, in the other gland. We also lost one after a routine, uneventful surgery---something we never forgot. The lupron babies have outlived the surgical ones--and lupron is non-invasive. Our personal experience, hands-on, has lead us to prefer lupron--and one can`t argue with these results!!!
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Felicia & Duke say "Thank you" to the Ferret Depot!!
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Love, Zoo
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