The above image is of T. Whitehawk's late boy Apollo. Apollo was diagnosed with insulinoma when he was 4½ years old. His brief story is outlined below.

The only symptoms he had been showing was laying down flat on the floor (aka: pancaking, speed-bumping, flat ferreting) more often than usual, and staring off into space sometimes (aka: star gazing).

His blood glucose (BG) was checked by his veterinarian and found to be too low at 64 mg/dL (normal range is about 80- 120 mg/dL according to many veterinarians however, some go by 70- 110 mg/dL).

He was put on medication - a small dosage of prednisolone to be given twice daily (every 12 hours with food), and we were told that it was very important that he eats frequent small meals of a healthy diet (high in protein & fat, and low in carbohydrates).

Following our vets instructions - Apollo's insulinoma was very well managed for the following 18 months and his quality of life was very good!

Eventually though the medication stops working with long term use, and such was the case with Apollo. So, a second medication was added - Diazoxide (also given twice daily with food) to help keep his BG up.

He was also diagnosed with adrenal disease at this time and we chose to have him implanted with the DES implant to help manage the symptoms of the adrenal disease. Unfortunately insulinoma and adrenal disease often happen together or one shortly follows the other (they are both endocrine diseases and common ailments in the domesticated ferret).

Within six months of the adrenal disease diagnosis/ and implant, and the additional medications given to help manage his BG - Apollos body began failing him terribly and there was nothing more his vet could offer to help him fell better. We had to make that heartbreaking decision to let him go and let the vet help him get his wings.

~♥~ DIP My Sweet Angel Apollo ~♥~

3/23/2014 - 6/18/2020