My senior ferret has insulinoma. What are his treatment options?

If Pebbles is not going to have surgery to remove the tumor then you should try to cover the tumor to keep her from continuing to scratch it. You can get her a shirt or sweater. https://www.etsy.com/listing/225544117/pet-ferret-sweater-cozy-unique-extra?ref=shop_home_feat_3 You can also put some Neopsorin on it if you'd like. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry that your ferret has a tumor. The prognosis varies greatly depending on the severity of other signs and the type of tumor. Common tumors in ferrets include insulinomas (tumors of the pancreas), tumors on the spleen, and tumors on the adrenal glands as well as lymphoma. The prognosis for each of these varies from weeks to years and depends on the stage the tumor is in. I hope this helps and am happy to provide a consultation to answer any questions you may have regarding the specific tumor type your ferret has been diagnosed with!

Thanks for reaching out about Willy and including a photo. Age is middle age and not considered old. Just because he did not respond to Karo syrup does not mean he doesn't have an insulinoma. But other conditions possible. A veterinary visit is recommended, but probably sooner than late next week. Monitor appetite and body score if you can. Good luck.

Poor Gannan! It would be great if at a bare minimum you could get some pain medication on board for him. Hopefully your vet will dispense an anti-inflammatory or opiate pain medication to you so that you can treat his pain during this tough time. There are very inexpensive options out there for pain meds and this is what I suggest to people who don't have a lot of money to spend or who don't believe in euthanasia.

It's really hard to tell how much time he may left. The vet that diagnosed the cancer may have a better idea based on the location and potential metastasis during their examination and testing. Any type of oral cancer can be very painful. There are several pain medication options that can help, and I would recommend discussing all of the options wit your vet. You could also look for a hospice vet in your area that will see ferrets. Quality of life is unique to each pet and owner, so there won't be an easy way for me to tell you when it is "time." This article is made for dogs, but many of the concepts will apply: http://www.lapoflove.com/diseases/canine/Oral_Tumors_in_Dogs.pdf

Sorry to hear this! I know how sad it is to see these guys lose their vigor. Ferrets can get a few different tumors, so it really depends on the type of tumor and many other factors relating to his current condition. I wish I could help give a good answer about Joey's prognosis, but it's not possible without examining him, discussing his condition with you and reviewing medical records. For this, you may consider having an online consult with one of our vets on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This way, you can send unlimited pictures and have a text conversation with a vet. Seven years is old for a ferret and if he is not playing anymore, then it likely means that he is very ill. Whether his condition is treatable/reversible is not possible for me to know without having more information. My best recommendation is for you to have a consultation with your vet in order to get a better idea of his prognosis and treatment options. I hope that helps and Joey feels better soon.

I am sorry to hear that Ender isn’t doing well. I would encourage you to start calling veterinarians in your area to see who treats exotics. It is possible that you may have to travel some. From what you describe I am worried about something called an insulinoma. This a small tumor on the pancreas that produces too much insulin. The insulin drives the glucose too low and they act just like a diabetic with low glucose would act. These tumors are very common in ferrets. Surgical removal or medical treatment with medications to increase glucose levels can be somewhat helpful. Best of luck, and I hope you find a veterinarian who can help you soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.