Key Points
- Pancreatic beta cell tumor or insulinoma is commonly seen in middle-aged to older pet ferrets in some nations, including the United States.
- Signs of hypoglycemia frequently include altered mentation, a dazed or glazed appearance in the eyes (star-gazing), posterior paresis and ataxia, as well as ptyalism and pawing at the mouth. Ferrets may also collapse or exhibit seizure activity.
- Normal fasting blood glucose levels range from 80 to 120 mg/dL. Fasting blood glucose should exceed 70 mg/dL and blood glucose measuring less than 70 mg/dL is strongly suggestive of insulinoma.
- Mild to moderate hypoglycemic episodes may be managed with frequent meals of high-quality, high-protein diet.
- While there is no cure for beta cell tumors, surgical debulkment of the tumor with possible partial pancreatectomy is the treatment of choice.
- Medical management of insulinoma centers around corticosteroid and/or diazoxide administration.
Pancreatic beta cell tumor or insulinoma is commonly seen in middle-aged to older pet ferrets in some nations, including the United States. This article reviews the common clinical picture as well as expected laboratory results. While there is no cure for beta cell tumors, surgical debulkment of the tumor with possible partial pancreatectomy is the treatment of choice. This treatment modality is discussed as well as medical management, which centers around corticosteroid and/or diazoxide administration . . .
Pour les vétérinaires. Par les vétérinaires.
Le site Lafervet.com est conçu pour une utilisation par les vétérinaires. Il est ouvert aux vétérinaires diplômés, aux techniciens vétérinaires diplômés, aux animaliers et aux étudiants dans ces domaines.
Créer un compte pour accéder à des articles et des ressources du site.
L'inscription est gratuite.
Para Profesionales Veterinarios. Por Profesionales Veterinarios.
El sitio Lafervet.com es para uso de los profesionales veterinarios. Está abierto a los veterinarios licenciados, técnicos veterinarios licenciados, rehabilitadores licenciados y estudiantes en estos campos.
Cree una cuenta para acceder a los artículos y recursos del sitio.
La registro es gratis.
Already a LafeberVet Member?
Please Login
References
1. Avallone G, Forlani A, Tecilla M, et al. Neoplastic diseases in the domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) in Italy: classification and tissue distribution of 856 cases (2000-2010). BMC Vet Res. 2016;12(1):275. doi: 10.1186/s12917-016-0901-7. PMID: 27919252; PMCID: PMC5139086.
2. Bakthavatchalu V, Muthupalani S, Marini RP, Fox JG. Endocrinopathy and aging in ferrets. Vet Pathol. 2016;53(2):349-65. doi: 10.1177/0300985815623621. PMID: 26936751; PMCID: PMC5397995.
3. Beeber NL. Surgical management of adrenal tumors and insulinomas in ferrets. J Exot Pet Med. 2011;20(3):206-216. doi:10.1053/j.jepm.2011.04.006.
4. Bennett KR, Gaunt MC, Parker DL. Constant rate infusion of glucagon as an emergency treatment for hypoglycemia in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2015;246(4):451-454. doi:10.2460/javma.246.4.451.
5. Caplan ER, Peterson ME, Mullen HS, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of insulin-secreting pancreatic islet cell tumors in ferrets: 57 cases (1986-1994). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1996;209(10):1741-1745.
6. Charalambous M, Bhatti SFM, Van Ham L, et al. Intranasal midazolam versus rectal diazepam for the management of canine status epilepticus: A multicenter randomized parallel-group clinical trial. J Vet Intern Med. 2017;31(4):1149-1158. doi:10.1111/jvim.14734.
7. Chen S. Advanced diagnostic approaches and current medical management of insulinomas and adrenocortical disease in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2010;13(3):439-52. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2010.05.002. PMID: 20682429.
8. Di Girolamo N, Selleri P. Medical and surgical emergencies in ferrets. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2016;19(2):431-464. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2016.01.006.
9. Dutton MA. Case studies on doxorubicin for the treatment of ferret insulinoma (12 cases). J Exot Mammal Med Surg 2004;2(1):5–7.
10. Ehrhart N, Withrow SJ, Ehrhart EJ, Wimsatt JH. Pancreatic beta cell tumor in ferrets: 20 cases (1986-1994). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1996;209(10):1737-1740.
11. Flesner BK, Fletcher JM, Smithee T, Boudreaux B. Long-term survival and glycemic control with toceranib phosphate and prednisone for a metastatic canine insulinoma. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2019;55(1):e55105. doi: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-6751. Epub 2018 Nov 14. PMID: 30427714.
12. Hoefer HL. Gastrointestinal diseases of ferrets. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th St. Louis, Missouri, USA; 2021. pp. 29-30.
13. Huynh M, Chassang L, Zoller G. Evidence-based advances in ferret medicine. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2017;20(3):773-803. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2017.04.009. PMID: 28781033.
14. Huynh M, Piazza S. Musculoskeletal and Neurologic Diseases. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th St. Louis, Missouri, USA; 2021. p. 120.
15. Jekl V, Casale S. Soft Tissue Surgery. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th St. Louis, Missouri, USA; 2021. pp. 438-440.
16. Johnson-Delaney CA. Geriatric ferrets. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2020 Sep;23(3):549-565. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2020.04.002. Epub 2020 Jun 3. PMID: 32505476.
17. Johnson-Delaney CA. Ferret nutrition. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2014;17(3):449-470. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2014.05.008.
18. London C, Mathie T, Stingle N, et al. Preliminary evidence for biologic activity of toceranib phosphate (Palladia®) in solid tumours. Vet Comp Oncol. 2012;10(3):194-205. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5829.2011.00275.x. Epub 2011 Jun 1. PMID: 22236194; PMCID: PMC3732378.
19. Miwa Y, Kurosawa A, Ogawa H, et al. Neoplastic diseases in ferrets in Japan: a questionnaire study for 2000 to 2005. J Vet Med Sci. 2009;71(4):397-402. doi: 10.1292/jvms.71.397. PMID: 19420840.
20. Petritz OA, Antinoff N, Chen S, Kass PH, Paul-Murphy JR. Evaluation of portable blood glucose meters for measurement of blood glucose concentration in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2013;242(3):350-354. doi:10.2460/javma.242.3.350.
21. Pollock C. Emergency medicine of the ferret. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2007;10(2):463-500. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2007.02.002.
22. Schoemaker NJ, van Zeeland YRA. Endocrine Diseases of Ferrets. In: Quesenberry KE, Orcutt CJ, Mans C, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th St. Louis, Missouri, USA; 2021. pp. 86-89.
23. Schoemaker NJ. Ferret oncology: Diseases, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 2017;20(1):183-208. doi: 10.1016/j.cvex.2016.07.004. PMID: 27890288.
24. Sheppard-Olivares S, Bello NM, Johannes CM, et al. Toceranib phosphate in the management of canine insulinoma: A retrospective multicentre study of 30 cases (2009-2019). Vet Rec Open. 2022;9(1):e27. doi: 10.1002/vro2.27. PMID: 35079406; PMCID: PMC8776903.
25. Weiss C, Scott M. Clinical aspects and surgical treatment of hyperadrenocorticism in the domestic ferret: 94 cases (1994-1996). J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1997;33(6):487-493. doi:10.5326/15473317-33-6-487.
26. Weiss CA, Williams BH, Scott MV. Insulinoma in the ferret: clinical findings and treatment comparison of 66 cases. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 1998;34(6):471-5. doi: 10.5326/15473317-34-6-471. PMID: 9826281.
27. Wu R-S, Liu Y-J, Chu C-C, et al. Ultrasonographic features of insulinoma in six ferrets. Vet Radiol Ultrasound. 2017;58(5):607-612. doi:10.1111/vru.12522.
Cummings C, Pollock C. Pancreatic beta cell tumors in the ferret. March 31, 2022. LafeberVet web site. Available at https://lafeber.com/vet/pancreatic-beta-cell-tumors-in-the-ferret/