Low Blood Sugar

[Khyrstyne]

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Hello, I was wondering if anyone could help me with this, its awhile before I can get to the vet and I want some second opinions. My big boy doesn't seem to have much energy and always wants to lay down or lay on me. I'm a little scared because I'm giving him everything and anything he needs but nothing seems to change it. He's not old, about three years and a half. Although he always has been lazy, guess I just need second opinions. He had low blood sugar, but I have stuff to help him with that and I thought that would be over. Please, if anyone has any idea if something could be wrong with him, please let me know.
Thank you, Khyrstyne

[mindy]

there is no way to know what is wrong with him until he sees a vet. i am very sorry, but i can't offer any more advice other than take him to the vet as soon as you can.

[Tressie]

Khrystyne,

Okay some misconceptions I think. For starters a 3 1/2 year-old ferret is considered middle aged. At 4 he will officially be a senior citizen in the world of ferrets. Many illnesses start to manifest at about the 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 years of age.

If your vet told you that your ferret had low blood sugar and you were given medicine for it, then your ferret has insulinoma. This is pancreatic tumors that do not go away. He must receive daily medication or he will die. He is at risk of getting insulinoma seizures which will make him very sick, cause brain damage and eventually kill him.

You have to get him back on the medicine you were given. It must be taken for life. Do you have any left?

What are you feeding him?

Type of food is super important for an insulinomic ferret to prevent him from crashing.

A ferret with insulinoma has to have a good quality ferret or KITTEN kibble available all the time. NO treats! Also good to supplement his diet with regular feedings of a nutritious soup made for ferrets, commonly referred to as 'duck soup'.

There are numerous recipes for this. The one I use is a combination of Hills Prescription Diet A/D, which you have to buy from a veterinary clinic; Carnivore Care (from vet) and some warm water.

He should be seen right away by a veterinarian and be put back on the medicine he was given for low blood sugar. This is critical if you want him to live.

There is no substitute for good veterinary care. If you are out of the medicine, you must take him back to your veterinarian or the Emergency Animal Clinic and get back on the medicine right away or you will lose him.

His condition is not cureable! Even surgery only slows it but doesn't cure it.

Tressie