What are the Treatment Options for a Ferret with Insulinoma?
Treatment options for ferret insulinomas can be medical, nutritional, surgical, or a combination of all three. Medical therapy is designed to reduce development of hypoglycemia and will have no effect on tumor growth at all. Medical therapy alone often results in the shortest symptom-free interval and the shortest survivability times. Corticosteroids (cortisone-like drugs) are the hallmark of therapy. Unlike dogs, ferrets do not seem negatively affected by corticosteroids and rarely show any adverse effects or clinical signs associated with their use. Oral prednisolone or prednisone (pills or liquid) is often administered once or twice per day. The lowest possible effective dose should be used to start. In cases that have gradually lost control of hypoglycemia and are at the upper limit of the maximum recommended dose, I do not hesitate to exceed that dose. Diazoxide (Proglycem) is a medication that has diuretic effects (increases urination) and raises blood sugar. In most cases it is
