Hello :)

I just ordered one online from Amazon - as i live in London England these True2Go and strips are only available online and take a few weeks to arrive.

But once it does I hope to have it help me with monitoring him and any future ferrets we get.

Well, I didn't realize where you lived.  I'm sure there similar models available where you are.  Be advised that ths strips are good for a year.  You should test every 2 weeks for a couple months, then monthly.  That'll give you time to shop for one.  

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Hi all,

I just wanted to discuss the Pred meds my furry mate is on.

As discussed, we increased his meds to 0.2ml twice a day, as he was having some issues and what appeared to be mini fits (clawing at mouth etc).

However after several days of being on double dose, he just was not right. After each dose, and food together he was acting very strangely - flopping about, almost in a daze.

So the past few days I decided to actually reduce he does to lower than originally done. And I must say he has not shown any of the worrying symptoms he has especially on double does (0.2ml twice a day). 

I am also trying to fill his tummy before giving any meds, and although he is not any where near back to his former self, he is stable.

Question - would he have been on too much to begin with? or am I guessing. 
I am waiting for  my Glucose machine to arrive from the States, so I assume that will help me judge.
Also will this machine (True2Go), be accurate enough?




Thx

Usually you want to start with a lower dose so it can be increased later, and because pred does have side effects you want to delay them as long as possible.  
We've used the Tru2Go for years.  We checked it against our vet's reading and it was very close, +/- .1mg/dL.  The meter comes with a small bottle of test solution.  Follow the directions to test the meter.  If it is off, you'll know how much.  
We found a site in amazon.com where the test strips are like 1/4 the price as in the stores.  

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Yes True2Go is on its way - shame it takes so long to get here from States :(

Will ask for advise when it arrives !

OK finally my True2Go and sticks arrived :)

So I now need advice on using git on my little boy - look forward to all the tips.
What settings to use, where best to take samples etc.

Thx

here comes the fun bit.

hopefully you've got your fuzz accustomed to some sort of oil or ferretone. we use ferretone.  a few drops on the belly is enough to distract them while we clip claws.  using that trick works for getting blood.  


insert the test strip into the meter, but not all the way so it turns on, just so it's ready.  shave the fur from the side of a toe (we try the back ones first, or you could put a thin coat of petrolatum on the toe to keep the fur from absorbing the blood.  Set the lancet on 5, the deepest setting (ferret skin is tough)

when you are ready to use the lancet, massage the toe to get some color in it.  push the test strip in all the way so the meter turns on.  Lance the toe (we find the side of the toe works best) wait fora bead of blood to form then put the test strip in the blood until the open end of the strip is full.  You only have about 1 minute from the time the meter turns on to get a reading or you will get an error.  

you could try it on yourself to practice.  Good luck.

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Thank you, I will try that tonight.

I dont have ferretone but will try an take his attention another way!

He has started struggling with his hing legs the morning, he has all the energy he normally has but his legs just done work?

How would we compare the reading? I assume if we use the same as you, then I can tell you when it is.
I assume then we can increase meds...?

Tris

Hello All,

Well we tried and tried tonight to get  sample of blood, and after 5-6 times still no luck.

We tried on the side of his claw, his tail, his paw on setting 5.
His side of claw did show signs of red ness but no sample

Any advice :(?

it may sound silly, but did you put a needle in the lancet?  Did you get any blood at all, or just not enough?

This is a pretty g0od article on the procedure.  
http://www.ferret-universe.com/health/home_glucose.asp

normal values are 80-120 mg/dL  (4.95 Mmol/L - 6.88 Mmol/L).  If you still have trouble with it, it might help to get you vet to show you how to do it.

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Yes I did put a needle in :)

He in the past week gotten worse with his back legs not really working.

It is sad and frustrating as we can get the meter to work after waiting so long, but I will be taking him to the vet next week
and asking their advice.

It does always seem that shortly after medication, he does sometimes seem lifeless and sometimes claw at his mouth.
Is this something common, I would have assumed that the meds would help.

Perhaps the dosage is not enough or not going in to his system well enough?

What are my other options to know re: meds, for when I go the vet?

Thx :)

it could be the dosage is too low.   A ferret can tolerate quite a lot of pred.  You could probably safely double the dose again but call the vet and ask, if you can't get there that for that long.  

That said, he's still young and doesn't need to be on high doses of pred indefinitely.  There could be other issues as well.  I would get back to the vet. Keep notes of any important signs and behaviors.  We have older one who has had multiple strokes.  Yours could have some neurological issue too.

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Yes he was checked again at the vet and they noticed a large Cyst on one of his Kidneys. They did drain it for tests and didn't see any sign of cancer in and around that organ. His Blood glucose was on the low side but all other tests proved fairly inconclusive. 

I was given some slightly different meds (prednisolone), which we are giving half a tablet twice a day. He has shown some signs of improvement, most clearly he has stopped clawing at his mouth with saliva. And he does have some improvements with his energy levels (but not that much). 

I will take him back next week, but the vet did say we could increase in the dosage by 50% (1.5 tablets per day).

I can only assume it is just trying to find the right dosage for him to improve. But then again is it because of a large Cyst which was not completely removed that is causing discomfort?

Would be interested in your thoughts. But on our next visit, i will be taking my blood glucose machine for the vet to show me what to do :)

Prednisone is converted to prednisolone by the liver, so prednisolone is actually better because it's easier on the liver and kidneys.
HOw are you giving it?  We crush the tabs, dissolve in a small amount of water, then add a few drops of ferretone and mix.  Usually they will lick it right out of a bowl but they may get tired of it after a while.  That's when you have to use a syringe.  
You might be able to get stronger tablets so you can give smaller bits of tablet per dose.  
It may take a couple adjustments to find the right dose.  It seems like fuzzies are different. Some will adapt to lower BG levels and others will seize and/or die with no prior signs.  Our Kahlua lived 2 years until over 8 years old on pred and her BG never recovered above the mid-40s.  

The other med used for treatment is Proglycem/diazoxide. It's primarily used to treat high blood pressure, but as a side effect it inhibits insulin production which increases glucose levels.  It is usually added later when the pred starts to lose effectiveness.

THE DOOKS OF HAZARD

Hi,

Hes had another set of tests and his Blood glucose is at around 45 Mol....
We have him on 1mg tablet twice a day at the moment (up from 1/2 twice a day), and he is showing improvement.

Out of interest, what is the max per day these little furries can safely handle before we need to think about other treatments?

Thanks :)

Within days her right breast had ballooned, turned bright red and was throbbing in pain but the clinic told her the side effects were 'normal'. After two weeks, while back home in Sweden, the scar underneath her right breast had began to open up and the implant – covered in brown liquid – was poking out of https://buygefitinib.org/https://buygefitinib.org/ .