Nahum ... what to do ? swollen belly

[yukkabelle]

Hi everybody. I was not active those past days, it is always like this when I have a baby sick.

I just posted this message on the Ferret health list... hoping to some light.

Nahum is 6 years and 4 months.
He is adrenal both of the 2 glands are involved.

He is on the monthly Lupron depot 500mcg
He is on Flutamide at 0.1 ml once a day
He is on liquid Melatonin 1.5mg

All was going good for months but Nahum started the past Tuesday to have his belly swollen and when he made pee, he didn't finish his pee and go away from the potty place still peeing. It is as he didn't feel that his bladder isn't still full of pee. He has had an appointment to the vet the last Friday. The vet did an ultrasound. The bladder is ok, nothing blocked, but the prostate did again grow and make the pee difficult to pass.

I have discussed with her to change the Flutamide for Propecia. To try the implant Deslorelin instead of Lupron depot. And surgery.

Nahum has an heart failure 2 years ago (not sure about the date) when the vet pulled a broken fang.

My vet send me an email this morning with more answers. As they don't have the Deslorelin implant. She will not doing the surgery. She is no comfortable with it. And want me to see a specialist surgeon. I am lost.Please help me.

Here is the message of Nahum vet :

Hello Mdm,

I spoke to Dr. xxxx (other Dr in another clinic) reguarding the implant. It is by 'Emergency Drug Release' that he has been able to bring it in so he can not by law sell an implant to me. I have to speak to the owners of this clinic as to whether they would like to bring them in here. It would be quickest if you were to go to Dr. xxxxx's clinic to recieve the implant. I mentioned that you may be calling. He has been using the implants since last November and has had good success with them. They last for 10 to 14 months and cost is $225.00 + a consultation fee. He does mention that some ferrets with existing insulinoma become affected by the insulinoma after the injection and have to be treated for this. He has seen good reduction in size to the vulva in female ferrets with adrenal disease so it is possible that the prostate may also decrease in size. This would help Nahum.
I will call Alta Vista with reguards to exploratory surgery if you would like. The implant, like lupron will not cure the adrenal disease. We are just masking the clinical signs associated with the disease but the disease continues to progress. The only cure is attempt at removal. The left gland can be removed but the right gland can often only be debulked. An exploratory surgery for Nahum could be done but I don't know if it is possible to cure him at this point.
If you feel the Flutamide is not working we could switch to the Propecia. No one seems to know if they can be used in combination. I have ordered more Flutamide for now.

Let me know what you think.
Dr. xxxxxx

Nahum seems to start to be uncomfortable for to move with his belly, difficulty to climb in his hammock, he makes a waves with his body when it is time to pee or poop.

He eats well (baby food lamb mixed with reduced protein Medical Feline canned food) His mood is good too.

Nahum is on Lupron since the 03 October 2008.

Thank you
Marie-Agnes



I am desperate. His swollen belly is appeared like this in space of 2 days. I can not believe all has grown like this in space of fews hours.

I have juste replying Nahum 's vet to let her know that I have recieve her message and understood all, but that I need to think at all that. And that the distance is not a concern for to go in a experienced surgeon.

I don't think the Alta Vista hospital she mentioned have experienced surgeon in ferrets. I think it is just for an exploratory surgery.

[wanderinweasels]

Definitely not an expert but it sounds like a prostate problem to me. And they can swell up pretty fast, just as you say Nahum has done. If the prostate swells it can prevent the fert from peeing. It may feel like it always has to pee because his bladder is full but the swollen prostate blocks the path so he is unable to. He may need to be expressed or catheritized to empty his bladder. I've had this problem with several of my older boys. Louie-ville slugger was one of them. I'd check with my vet ASAP to prevent any complications. Other than that all I can do is tell you that Nahum will be in our prayers hoping that whatever his problem is will be taken care of.

[reanee]

When my kids have a prostrate problem, I start them on the propecia. I learned to use the syringe to relieve the bladder for them, until the propecai kicked in. I was scared to death the first time I did this, but it saved their lives. Once the propecia kicked in then I no longer had to use the needle and syringe to relieve them. If you can have your vet show you how to manually relieve their bladder for them, by using your fingers, that is also a great way to help them out.
I do have one guy, Van, right now who I am having trouble feeling his bladder with my fingers, I know he has other things going on inside of him, besides the adrenal. So I am really wary of trying to squeeze his bladder for him, as I am not feeling it as good as I should be able to. I will not even try the syringe with him, since I can't feel the bladder. I do not want to be squeezing something that should not be squeezed. Normaly I can feel the kidney, the spleen, the bladder, etc. but not on him.

[yukkabelle]

Thank you both for your replies.

Reanee do you think Propecia will be more effective than the Flutamide ? My vet knows the name about it but has no feedback of it. It is not used in this clinic.

I can feel many things in Nahum's belly, the spleen is "out" too... All is pushed "out" by the grown of the prostate and perhaps the grown of the adrenal glands.

[reanee]

I haven't used the Flutamide, but I did find a link about how it works.

www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Treatments/Hormonaltherapies/Individualhormonaltherapies/Flutamide#8193

And here is a link about Propicia

www.rxlist.com/propecia-drug.htm

I did have to get a prescription for the propecia from the vet, so I could get it at the pharmacy. You will probably have to get a prescript for either drug you decide on. I can't remember where I got the dosase for the propecia, but it was one tablet once a day for 10 days then 1/4 tab every day from then on. The tabs were 1 mg.

I don't pretend to understand anything of what they say. Propecia has worked for most of the guys I have used it on. It did not work on Feets, but neither did the melitonin implants, or the lupron, or surgery.
Pulling the urine with a syringe is what kept him going for as long as he did make it.

[Dar24]

Yukka I can't offer you any advice on this..But I can offer you and Nahum my prayers.. I am sorry to hear that Nahum is having a tough time again.. I sure hope you can find something that will help with his prostrate..

I wish you both well,,

[huronna]

Yukka, the only thing I have treated my ferrets with has been the Lupron. And when I noticed there was a pee problem, I would not immediately it was time for another shot, even though there were no other symptoms. Like the Vet says, none of these are cures, they only ease the symptoms which can cause other fatal problems.

I am sending prayers your way also

[yukkabelle]

May 26, 2009 21:50:19 GMT -5 huronna said:

And when I noticed there was a pee problem, I would not immediately it was time for another shot, even though there were no other symptoms.

Huronna I don't understand you. If you noticed a pee problem you will wait for another shot ?

Nahum is on the monthly depot on the higher dosage. And I am very strict with the schedule. Both of my boys have their shot in the 30 days.

Thank you Dar and Huronna for your thoughts and prayers, they are all important.

Thank you Reane for the links. The flutamide, the one that Nahum is on it, seems to be a good medication. I still dont know for the Propecia. I am afraid to change for the worse.

[greta]

I'm so sorry to hear Nahum is having problems with his prostate, gf. I have no experience at all with adrenal disease and know only what I've read as to its symptoms and treatment. I do know it is possible to manually express the urine from the bladder, as Reanee has said. You and Nahum are in my prayers. Please keep us posted. We care! Loving hugs, Greta

[yukkabelle]

Yes Greta, Nahum and Bear have their monthly appointment Friday, and as Reanee suggests I will ask for to show me how help my boy peeing by massages. Thank you dear Greta for keep Nahum is your prayers

[furballlover]

many good thoughts being sent for precious Nahum.

[huronna]

Yukka, I don't use the monthly shot. I have always used the 2000 mcg 4 month depot which is a time release dosage that last from 4-9 months actually. When I used it on silveretta she didn't start having symptoms (hair loss and rarely a swollen vulva) it was about 8-9 months after the shot. But with Frick, once he was on Lupron he never had any more hair loss and the only symptom would be urinary problems. My vet would treat that and at the same time place a phone call to the4 Medical Arts Pharmacy and the meds would arrive within 48 hours.

[shadoe]

Sending Prayers

[huronna]

And when I noticed there was a pee problem, I would not immediately it was time for another shot, even though there were no other symptoms.

Sorry Yukka that was a typo It should have been I would KNOW immediately it was time

[yukkabelle]

Ok Huronna now I undertand well

Nahum had his appointment tomorrow with Petit Outs for their monthly Lupron shot

And Nahum has an appointment on the 8 June with another clinic with Dr Auger for to get his Deslorelin implant.

Thank you for keeping my precious little boy in your prayers.