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Post by otterwoman on Jan 8, 2011 9:13:31 GMT -5
I have a 6-7 year old rescue ferret with adrenal disease, who lost almost all his hair between August and October and was starting to become symptomatic. He took to this raw diet like a natural (it's been about two months now that they've all been eating raw) and also about a month ago I started giving him melatonin (orally) every day. His hair is growing back! I wonder if it is the melatonin or the raw diet, or both? Any theories? either way, I'm so happy for him. He has a short peach fuzz all over now where he had been bald.
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Post by Heather on Jan 8, 2011 9:20:41 GMT -5
The melatonin if you give consistently at the proper time will help for awhile. I find that between that and the raw diet I have got very good results. When the symptoms return, you have to be on the ball...good observations...and your lucky (not cancers) you can then move on to lupron or deslorin and still get more time still. I'm glad that you're seeing results, I've had excellent results but the melatonin has to be given around 7 hrs after sunrise and the window is not very large. I agree I think the diet goes a long way to helping too. Remember each of these medical stages..melatonin, lupron, deslorin are only bandaids but the surgery doesn't get rid of it either...it always comes back ciao
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Post by Jackie on Jan 8, 2011 9:25:51 GMT -5
Glad to hear your little one is improving. Pixie had really bad rat tail before switching, so bad she starting losing hair on her tail. I was so scared she was adrenal. Luckily, after switching her to freeze dried raw, her tail instantly improved, black heads disappeared, and she grew all her fur back. I'm sure that the diet has a LOT to do with her improved condition. Your little one with be in my prayers.
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Post by otterwoman on Jan 8, 2011 9:33:55 GMT -5
When I talked to the vet about giving melatonin orally, she didn't talk about a time- I give it in the morning. I didn't know it should be given later--does it make a big difference? I will definitely change the time I give it, this is the first I heard that.
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Post by miamiferret2 on Jan 8, 2011 10:20:55 GMT -5
Ask your vet to order the melatonin implant from melatek. Lasts about 4 months. I had a hard time giving oral melatonin bc I work. The implant was good. It worked for a little over 1 year before we had to start using lupron. However, I never stopped using melatonin implants, I just added in the lupron. I think diet has a lot to do with it. One vet i spoke to said that he thinks ferrets on poor diets seem to develop adrenal disease alot earlier. Congratulations on the improvements!
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Post by otterwoman on Jan 8, 2011 13:38:05 GMT -5
I don't have any problems giving him the melatonin orally- I'll just switch the time.
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Post by Heather on Jan 8, 2011 13:49:19 GMT -5
Here you go **Melatonin can be used in oral (liquid or pill) or implant form. While you can use oral melatonin, the success or failure of it depends on the time of day it is given. It needs to be administered exactly 7 - 9 hours after sunrise to mimic the natural release of melatonin. If given at this time every single day, oral melatonin is extremely effective. Unfortunately many ferret owners are not home during this time. A more convenient way to administer melatonin effectively is to use Ferretonin, a melatonin implant. Implants last about 3 - 4 months, and provide a steady level of melatonin over that time period.Melatonin can be used in oral (liquid or pill) or implant form. While you can use oral melatonin, the success or failure of it depends on the time of day it is given. It needs to be administered exactly 7 - 9 hours after sunrise to mimic the natural release of melatonin. If given at this time every single day, oral melatonin is extremely effective. Unfortunately many ferret owners are not home during this time. A more convenient way to administer melatonin effectively is to use Ferretonin, a melatonin implant. Implants last about 3 - 4 months, and provide a steady level of melatonin over that time period.** ciao
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