|  | | What is Insulinoma? | | Home > Ferret FAQ > Health Issues > What is Insulinoma? | | Insulinoma is one of the most common forms of cancer diagnosed in ferrets. It’s a common misconception that insulinoma is a ferret’s version of diabetes, but in fact, insulinoma is the exact opposite of diabetes for ferrets.
A ferret with insulinoma has cancer of the pancreas, which is when Islet cell tumors on the pancreas cause an overproduction of insulin. Insulin is a hormone which allows cells in the body to use glucose in the blood. Overproduction of insulin forces the glucose in the blood into the cells, which causes a drop in glucose level, or hypoglycemia. Diabetes in ferrets is when low levels of insulin render cells unable to use the glucose, causing an overabundance of glucose. This is known as hyperglycemia.
So to summarize:
Hypoglycemia = too much insulin = low blood sugar = Insulinoma
Hyperglycemia = too little insulin = high blood sugar = Diabetes
A normal blood sugar level for a ferret is anywhere between 90 and 120. When a ferret has low blood sugar (anything 70 or below), this is considered to be diagnostic of insulinoma. A fasting blood sugar test (no food for 4 – 6 hours before the test) can be administered by your vet, but what symptoms should raise the alarm?
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Excessive Salivating
- Staring off with a dazed look
- Mouth ulcers
- Tremors
- Pawing at the mouth
- Hind leg weakness (this is one of the most common signs that is almost always attributed to insulinoma)
- Loss of coordination
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
If your ferret is exhibiting one or more of these symptoms, a visit to an experienced ferret vet and a blood sugar test are highly recommended. If you see these symptoms and they stop, don’t assume that your ferret is alright. Insulinoma symptoms can come and go as their blood sugar rises and falls. Things that trigger these changes in blood sugar are diet, exercise & stress.
Treatment options are:
1) Surgery – either to remove any pancreatic masses or a full pancreotomy. This will stop or slow the progression, but it is rarely a cure. Pancreatic tumors are small and seedy nodules, generally located throughout the pancreas of an insulinomic ferret. The chance that a vet will get all of the tumors is unlikely, and they will probably come back.
2) Medication – surgery is not always the best option for older, unhealthy ferrets, and sometimes it’s not an option at all, due to money issues or ferrets with conditions that prevent it. The most common medications used to control Insulinoma are Prednisone, diazoxide (Proglycem), and dexamethasone. Prednisone raises the blood glucose and increases the production of glucose in the liver. It doesn’t, as some people think, block the insulin. Rather, it counteracts the hypoglycemic effects of insulin with hyperglycemic action, effectively balancing it out. For best results, medicine should be given twice a day, 12 hours apart, to keep the glucose levels as stable as possible.
3) Diet Change – this is recommended regardless of whether you choose surgery, medication, or both. Ferret diets higher in animal protein help insulinomic ferrets to lead a more symptom free life, as protein helps to regulate and raise blood sugar levels. Frequent feedings of duck soup can be very beneficial. |
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