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Post by bluemoose on Nov 23, 2010 1:25:30 GMT -5
So I was mentioning getting deslorelin implants for the ferrets to my family and they immediately launched into many reasons why I shouldn't. "Of course the vet that gives it says it works to prevent adrenal, that's how he makes money." "Is there any actual proof that it prevents adrenal?" "If the preventative and treatment are the same thing, just wait until they get adrenal to get the implants."
So are there any actual studies proving that deslorelin helps to prevent adrenal?
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Post by mustelidmusk on Nov 23, 2010 9:48:15 GMT -5
I hear they're in progress. I know somebody who used Deslorelin to delay neutering. It worked GREAT. She had 3 hobs - all were implanted with the 1-year implants - all responded really well.
I'm pretty certain that deslorelin and lupron will work great on nearly all (if not all) ferrets that have ZERO disease/changed tissue in the adrenal glands.
I believe the problem with preventive lupron protocol is the use of an annual preventive shot addresses the annual hormone spike only. With the variation in latitude and individual ferrets, the spike is commonly missed anyway because the lupron is not given at the optimal time. Also, the lupron is not given year round. Because the deslorelin is effective all year, it will be much more effective at preventing disease.
I believe the primary reasons for failure of adrenal disease to respond to deslorelin involves the following: 1. how advanced is the disease? We do not know at what point the diseased tissue will progress in spite a lack of stmulation from the brain. 2. how long can a ferret take these drugs (deslorelin/lupron) without running into side effects and/or becoming desensitized to the drugs.
-jennifer
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Post by jacksmomma on Nov 23, 2010 9:58:56 GMT -5
My vet has agreed to implant Jack and Brady with the Deslorelin as a preventative. I think Brady, who is just under 4 months will really benefit because he hasn't had any hormonal spike yet. Jack's still quasi young too so hopefully it will help his as well. Really it's just a waste of money if it doesn't help and shouldn't have any detrimental effects on the boys
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Post by miamiferret2 on Nov 23, 2010 13:11:35 GMT -5
I don't think they do it to make money. i know a very good ferret knowledgeable vet who implants his own ferrets with deslorelin to prevent adrenal. i will be implanting my young boy in january (he will be 6 months). i have never done this before but most of the ferrets that i have owned over the past 20 years have developed adrenal disease. only one did not. then again, he died at a very young age (less than 2 years old) so that doesn't say much. watching a ferret slowly deteriorate and suffer from prostate problems, muscle loss, lethargy and everything else that comes with adrenal disease is horrible. it especially sucks when the ferret would otherwise be healthy but for the adrenal tumors. so i hope it works and i definitely think that it is worth trying.
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Post by bluemoose on Nov 23, 2010 14:22:21 GMT -5
I feel it's worth a try as well but despite the fact that I will pay for it with my money (how much does it usually run by the way?) my parents still think it's a waste of money. I told them that this vet is probably the best ferret vet in the state and promotes minimal vaccination so he can't be that money hungry to which they responded, "Well he doesn't need to promote vaccinations because he gets his money somewhere else."
In case you can't tell, they're extremely skeptical of everything. These are the same parents who insist that kibble, any kibble, is just as good as a natural diet. And these people are doctors, highly educated, believe people should eat healthy. But animals? What a stupid idea. Anyway sorry for the rant it just gets very frustrating to have all your ideas shot down.
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Post by jacksmomma on Nov 23, 2010 14:28:26 GMT -5
Right now the Des implant isn't super main-stream and marketable. Soooo the idea that he's just making money isn't very reasonable and he probably isn't making a profit from using them. Sometimes the best thing is to teach... print off some of the studies about the implants, give your parents plenty of info about how uncomfortable adrenal is and show them how much adrenal surgery will cost (i'm sure plenty of people on here can give you those numbers).
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Post by bluemoose on Nov 23, 2010 15:38:45 GMT -5
Oh I've tried. "These people aren't vets." And if it is a vet, "Well there are always some nut jobs in every profession." When it comes down to it, they don't want to be educated because they already know they're right. I tried to explain that waiting until they get adrenal just because deslorelin can be a preventative and a treatment is cruel but shockingly enough, they didn't think so. But whatever, they're my pets and it's my money so I will do what I think is best for them.
I've been calling around looking for a vet that has deslorelin and isn't asking $300 per ferret. One of them looks promising so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
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Post by jacksmomma on Nov 23, 2010 15:55:01 GMT -5
Make sure its trademarked as Suprelorin. I plan to see the package before it goes near my babes, it'd be best if you did the same
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Post by bluemoose on Nov 23, 2010 18:39:58 GMT -5
Yeah my BF has been researching it and he mentioned making sure we didn't get the horse one and to ask to see the package. Just made an appointment to take them all in for an exam tomorrow at a vet that will have deslorelin in a couple weeks.
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Post by bluemoose on Nov 24, 2010 20:20:55 GMT -5
Well the vet visit didn't go so well. After looking over my three ferrets and telling me they were healthy (which I knew), the vet proceeded to tell me that very few ferrets get adrenal and I don't need to worry about it. Then he charged me $132 for the exam. I was and am pretty pissed. And on top of that I got pulled over with my illegal ferrets in the car. Not the best day of my life.
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Post by jacksmomma on Nov 24, 2010 20:38:49 GMT -5
Not a lot of ferrets get adrenal? It's my understanding that basically all altered ferrets will eventually get adrenal. Well there's some new data you can give your parents - this guy doesn't want your money. Sorry you had such a crappy day. Don't get discouraged, keep shopping for a great vet (clearly this one was NOT great).
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Post by mustelidmusk on Nov 24, 2010 20:59:26 GMT -5
I believe that all ferrets that get neutered will eventually get adrenal disease problems if they live long enough and stimulation from the brain is not controlled The bottom line is that once you neuter, the glands are driven to produce sex hormones. The glands are not designed to be the primary producer of sex hormones. Any endocrine tissue that is over-driven for a long enough period of time will begin to fail/become diseased. I'm sometimes amazed at how stupid some vets think owners are. The best part about being older is that people do not give you as much BS as when you're younger....I know this from experience. Finding a good ferret vet can be really difficult. be sure to check the AFA web site for vets. -jennifer
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Post by bluemoose on Nov 24, 2010 21:19:18 GMT -5
Yeah I wasn't too pleased and am not planning to go back. My jaw kind of hit the floor when he said most ferrets don't get adrenal but I'm not confrontational enough to argue with him. I'll continue my search for a ferret savvy vet.
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Post by miamiferret2 on Nov 29, 2010 21:49:55 GMT -5
well that comment "ferrets don't get adrenal" is a sure sign that you need to find another vet! in 20+ years i have seen more than my share of ferrets with adrenal. don't let vets bully you. when you own ferrets for many years sometimes you end up knowing more than the vet does about certain things. as for the cost and the vet trying to get rich off of you-- that is a load of crap. he'd make more money from you if he made you go in once a month (for the rest of the ferret's life) to inject with the lupron. a once a year deslorelin seems like it is going to save you alot more money. plus, with all of the hassle that they have to go through to order it from peptech in australia, i doubt that he's doing this to get rich off of you. as for the cost, my vet charged me about $80.00 for the implant. i say this because he charged $120 that day and i just subtracted his normal exam costs plus his normal charge for travel time to drive to my house. then again, he ordered several implants from peptech. so maybe he got a better deal by ordering many of them instead of just one or two? just my guess. don't listen to your parents. kick and scream until you get what you want! if i listened to my parents my ferrets would be eating purina deli cat!
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Post by bluemoose on Nov 29, 2010 22:02:16 GMT -5
My family doesn't care what I do with my animals as long as I pay for it. They just enjoy argument and antagonizing me. My word is worthless to them. Unless they have proof that many ferrets get adrenal, proof that deslorelin helps prevent adrenal, proof that raw diets are superior to kibble, they won't believe it. Kicking and screaming wouldn't get me anywhere.
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