Insulinoma

Question
Hi,

My ferret Ozzy is 7 and has insulinoma. I took him to the vet a month or so ago because he was having issues walking due to his hind legs. He has an enlarged spleen and they did some blood work that day that showed Insulinoma. They gave me some prednisone that I give him once a day and it seems to be helping with his discomfort. However, last Thursday I left for work as usual and when i came home he was in the exact place I had left him...I knew immediately that he was not good and probably dehydrated as he was panting and drooling. I grabbed my ferret books, followed some simple steps and gave him pedolyte and some karo syrup as my vet suggested. I was able to nurse him back to health. Since then (It's Sunday now) I have given him Duck Soup everyday 2-3 times a day. I'm syringe feeding him and he usually eats a few syringe fulls of the soup. It has stimulated his appetite and he's a bit better. I'm concerned about him and don't want to give him too much of the Duck soup. He usually eats his regular ferret food shortly after, but not nearly as much as in the past. He is my baby and I want to make sure I'm doing all I can for his well being right now...any suggestions???

Thanks,
Beth


Answer
At age 7 and insulinoma (which is not curable) you are simply giving hospice care at this point and the question becomes one of when it is time to say good-bye.  Generally ferrets with insulinoma are on prednisone for the remainder of their lives at ever increasing doses as their seizures increase or as other symptoms increase and some kind of high fat food, we use a/d.  At my house are rule of thumb is when they are no longer eating on their own and they are no longer having ferret fun, it is time to say good-bye.