Pet Ferret Care

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 from 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

DIAGNOSIS

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 blood glucose test can be administered by your veterinarian, but some symptoms to look for include:

Weakness Lethargy Excessive salivating Staring off with a dazed look Mouth ulcers Tremors, twitching, or head bobbing 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 Lack of appetite Weight loss

If your ferret is exhibiting .