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Because Insulinoma is one of the most common illnesses our ferrets suffer from, it’s important we all stay informed on the proper treatment and medication, like Prednisolone for ferrets. Book mark this page for future reference.
When Moose started the medication 1 month ago to treat his Insulinoma, I didn’t understand what the medication did, I didn’t understand why he needed it, and I didn’t realize all the important considerations to make when administering Prednisolone for ferrets.
I sat down with my local compounding pharmacist to ask all about it:
I spent some time with our pharmacist to learn about Prednisolone and ferrets
What is Prednisolone?
Prednisolone is the most common medication used to treat ferrets with Insulinoma. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucocorticoids – meaning it reduces inflammation throughout the body. Prednisolone is a common steroid used in both humans and ferrets. Prednisolone is also used to treat irritable bowel disease and lymphoma in ferrets.
Prednisolone vs. Prednisone
Prednisolone is the “active” form of Prednisone, meaning it
has already been hepatically-metabolized, which is easier on your ferret’s
liver. Think of it like this: your ferret’s body would turn prednisone into
prednisolone using the liver anyway, so when you give your ferret prednisolone
to begin with, you are saving your ferret’s liver the work/wear and tear. Prednisolone
is recommended for ferrets instead of Prednisone for this reason.
Why Does My Ferret Need Prednisolone?
Ferrets with Insulinoma require immediate treatment to prevent seizures and death. Ferrets with Insulinoma have blood glucose levels under 70-90 mg/dl after 3-4 hours of fasting. The best way to test your ferret’s blood glucose levels to determine whether they have Insulinoma is with a blood glucose monitor.
Prednisolone for ferrets increases blood glucose levels by inhibiting cellular uptake, promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis , and inhibiting insulin binding to insulin receptors.
What Dose of Prednisolone Should My Ferret Be On?
Vets like to prescribe the lowest dose possible of
Prednisolone to begin with. As time goes on and the disease progresses, your
veterinarian will typically increase your ferret’s dose of Prednisolone.
Diazoxide is another medication that is often added if
Prednisolone is not enough to treat your ferret’s insulinoma symptoms.
Recommended doses for ferrets range from .5 to 2 mg/kg PO q12h (this means .5 to 2mg per kg of your ferret’s weight every 12 hours). Moose started his dose of Prednisolone at .25mg twice per day (it is compounded with Ferretone to come out to .25ML of liquid into a syringe).
.25mg is suspended in .25ML of fluid for Prednisolone liquid dose
Just for reference: 1mg is 1/1000 of 1ml. Moose’s compounded medication is 1mg per 1ml (in other words; .25mg in a single .25ml dose). If the Prednisolone medication was not compounded (mixed) with something else, the dosage would be 1/1000th the amount shown above. Too small to work!!
Should I Give My Ferret Liquid or Pill Prednisolone?
Ferrets are almost exclusively given liquid form Prednisolone
because their dosage is so small and it can be more accurately calibrated.
Liquid Prednisolone is also available to be mixed with Ferretone at a
compounding pharmacy to encourage your ferret to accept the medication. We
currently pay $35 per month for Moose’s Ferretone Prednisolone compounded
medication.
Moose does not mind taking Prednisolone because it is compounded with Ferretone at the pharmacy
Mixing Prednisolone with Ferretone?
Ferretone is a product by 8 and 1 found in Petco and
PetSmart. Though it is marketed as a regular supplement, it is not recommended
as a healthy treat in most ferret communities. The only acceptable use we have
seen is the use of Ferretone to encourage taking medication.
Veterinarians will often recommend you mix your ferret’s
Prednisolone medication with Ferretone to increase its palatability (tastiness).
Though Ferretone does NOT contain sugar, Ferretone is
controversial because it contains two preservatives known to cause cancer -BTA
and BHA. With ferrets having such high cancer rates already, it is a good idea
to steer clear of Ferretone if you can.
That being said, Moose currently takes Prednisolone that is
mixed with Ferretone through a compounding pharmacy. We are currently
researching and exploring other options.
Moose takes Carafate every 12 hours, 2 hours away from his Prednisolone dose
Medication Interactions with Prednisolone for Ferrets
Carafate is a medication used to treat ulcers that coats the
stomach lining of a ferret (think of it like a temporary band aid). Because of
its sticky, coating properties it can prevent the absorption of other
medications. If your ferret is on Prednisolone, it is very important that you
space out Carafate and Prednisolone. Our vet recommends waiting two hours after
a Carafate dose to give Prednisolone.
Should My Ferret Eat with Prednisolone or Take on an Empty Stomach?
Prednisolone irritates the lining of the stomach. You should
always get your ferret to eat before or immediately after taking Prednisolone.
How Do You Store Prednisolone?
Prednisolone should be stored at room temperature out of
direct sunlight and away from heat sources.
What Should I Do If My Ferret Misses a Dose of Prednisolone?
DO NOT DOUBLE THE DOSE to make up for a missed dose. If you only miss a single dose of your ferret’s Prednisolone, take the following dose at the usual time, in the normal amount.
It is important to give your ferret Prednisolone at the same
time every day to keep their blood glucose levels as steady as possible.
What Happens if You Stop Your Ferret’s Prednisolone Suddenly?
Prednisolone is a man-made steroid that mimics your ferret’s
body’s own cortisol. If your ferret has been on Prednisolone for longer than 3
weeks, their body has adjusted its own cortisol amount to accommodate the
Prednisolone.
For humans, Prednisolone will remain in the body for 16-22
hours. Because ferrets metabolize and digest much faster than humans, it is
safe to assume Prednisolone remains in a ferret’s body for a shorter amount of
time.
If you stop your ferret’s Prednisolone medication abruptly
(for longer than 1 missed dose), they could experience withdrawal:
Severe fatigue
Weakness
Body aches
Joint Pain
Blood Glucose drop and possible seizure
What are the Long Term Effects of Prednisolone for Ferrets?
Prone to infections
Abdominal weight gain
Fluid retention
Slow regrowth of hair in shaved areas
Increased dose needed to treat Insulinoma
Prednisolone for ferrets is an immune suppressant. This makes it harder for your ferret’s body to fight infections. It is important that you keep your ferret away from stressful situations and far away from sick humans or ferrets that could spread illness.
Insulinoma is one of the most common illnesses in ferrets
and Prednisolone is the most common medication prescribed to treat it -I knew
we could all use a thorough explanation of the medication we have all heard
about at some point! Book mark this page to easily find it at a later date!
Do you know if your ferret has Insulinoma? We found out Moose had Insulinoma by checking his blood glucose levels with the AlphaTRAK2, the only blood glucose monitor our vet recommends for ferrets. Get one today and start monitoring your ferret’s blood glucose this week!
Hey there fellow ferrents! Thank you for this article. I noticed you were looking for an alternative to ferretone…My Axel has been taking Prednisolone mixed with Molasses through a compounding pharmacy. He loves it and has been taking it this way since day 1 which has been about a year now. Just wanted to share a healthier option…hope your baby is doing well!
Debra, Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Moose has his compounded with Ferretone which is sugar-free but super oily so he loves the taste. In fact, we’ve been able to use his medication time as little mini training sessions (coming when he’s called, standing up, rolling over). He has no idea it’s medication! Does your vet have any concern with molasses spiking your ferret’s blood sugar? I’d love to hear more. Moose is doing well. He’s 5.5 years old now. He is definitely slowing down but he is still such a happy little boy! Thanks for asking 🙂
This article is so helpful! My little lady has been taking prednisolone and diazoxide for about 2 years now and in the last week her hair has started growing back, and quite rapidly. Do you know what this means? I will be taking her for a check up soon, just to see what the vet has to say. Her mood has improved and she’s actually running around and playing again which is so nice to see.
Hey Silka! I believe steroids like Prednisolone do in fact promote hair growth in ferrets! That’s great to see it working so well for her. It is also the time of year when ferrets shed and switch coats, so that could be a factor. I’m glad to hear you are taking extra precautions, but I’m glad to hear she has improved 🙂
I’d say it’s highly doubtful it’s the steroids that has led to regrowth of fur. As mentioned in the article, steroid use can inhibit regrowth of hair in shaved areas. It’s also known to cause alopecia in other species’. If the ferret in question has had a lack of fur I’d think there might be issues with adrenal disease involved. Maybe they got a new implant of suprelorin inserted recently…? That can lead to new hair growth. Or supplements with melatonin. That it’s due to having been on prednisolone during two years is just highly unlikely…
I recognize that pharmacy counter from the picture! We get our boy Garrus’s Pred at the same place. His brother Weaseley started drooling and pawing at his mouth tonight so he’s seeing Dr Knudsen ASAP for what will most likely be another Insulinoma diagnosis. I’m glad you’ve gotten Moose’s under control, and I’m always happy to see other Lincolnite ferrants.
It depends on far along your ferret has developed the disease. Our Newty lasted about a year once we started medication, but he already had had a seizure. Moose is still going 2 years later on prednisolone and I believe it is because we caught his disease sooner.
Our ferret has just been put on Prednisolone (.02ml every 12 hours) and that was all i was told to do. didnt know i was suppose to feed her before giving it to her and she has been throwing up a few mins after.
Get a different vet, they labeled moose as a rodent when in fact they are not rodents or related to a rodent at all. Rodents all have teeth like beavers and mice, ferrets are predators.
Good catch! Thankfully this was just an error on the clerk’s part at the Pharmacy where the Carafate was compounded. We have a very knowledgeable vet thankfully!
One of my ferrets had been on medication for a little over a year, and our vet recently told us it’s no longer working for him. We still give it to him, because I worry what will happen if we just stop. The vet told us we can give meat flavored treats and baby food to help supplement. He’s been mostly fine. Gets a little shaky here and there. I give him the baby food and a little bit of corn syrup and that seems to help. I’m worried about him suffering though. When will I know once it’s time to let him go peacefully?
My ferret started prednisolone February 1. I asked the vet about also adding probiotics to help with any stomach irritation. Started him on Marshall Probiotics 11 at the same time. So far, no tummy issues, so maybe the probiotics help.
Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferret adrenal disease. In this article, you will learn what causes it, the most common symptoms, and which ferrets are most at risk. What is Ferret Adrenal Disease? Ferrets have adrenal glands just like humans. These adrenal glands produce hormones to regulate …
A ferret chordoma (different from a chondroma) is a tumor typically found on the tip of a ferret’s tail. It is the most common musculoskeletal tumor in ferrets, according to Ferrets for Dummies. Chordomas grow beneath the ferret’s nerve cord and can cause compression of the spinal cord. This can cause discomfort and paralysis (according …
Last month was a ferret owner’s nightmare for me and my ferret family -and not only because I stepped on my ferret. I hope this article answers all the questions you have about Moose’s latest health update while providing some useful information to help should you ever experience anything similar. Our Story Begins… For those …
I wish we could have caught Moose’s Insulinoma sooner. I would have learned more about how to prevent Insulinoma in ferrets before it became too late. You may be familiar with the word ‘Insulinoma’ and yet unfamiliar with the subtle signs of illness and the many ways you can prevent the disease to prolong your …
What is Prednisolone for Ferrets?
Because Insulinoma is one of the most common illnesses our ferrets suffer from, it’s important we all stay informed on the proper treatment and medication, like Prednisolone for ferrets. Book mark this page for future reference.
When Moose started the medication 1 month ago to treat his Insulinoma, I didn’t understand what the medication did, I didn’t understand why he needed it, and I didn’t realize all the important considerations to make when administering Prednisolone for ferrets.
I sat down with my local compounding pharmacist to ask all about it:
What is Prednisolone?
Prednisolone is the most common medication used to treat ferrets with Insulinoma. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucocorticoids – meaning it reduces inflammation throughout the body. Prednisolone is a common steroid used in both humans and ferrets. Prednisolone is also used to treat irritable bowel disease and lymphoma in ferrets.
Prednisolone vs. Prednisone
Prednisolone is the “active” form of Prednisone, meaning it has already been hepatically-metabolized, which is easier on your ferret’s liver. Think of it like this: your ferret’s body would turn prednisone into prednisolone using the liver anyway, so when you give your ferret prednisolone to begin with, you are saving your ferret’s liver the work/wear and tear. Prednisolone is recommended for ferrets instead of Prednisone for this reason.
Why Does My Ferret Need Prednisolone?
Ferrets with Insulinoma require immediate treatment to prevent seizures and death. Ferrets with Insulinoma have blood glucose levels under 70-90 mg/dl after 3-4 hours of fasting. The best way to test your ferret’s blood glucose levels to determine whether they have Insulinoma is with a blood glucose monitor.
Prednisolone for ferrets increases blood glucose levels by inhibiting cellular uptake, promoting hepatic gluconeogenesis , and inhibiting insulin binding to insulin receptors.
What Dose of Prednisolone Should My Ferret Be On?
Vets like to prescribe the lowest dose possible of Prednisolone to begin with. As time goes on and the disease progresses, your veterinarian will typically increase your ferret’s dose of Prednisolone.
Diazoxide is another medication that is often added if Prednisolone is not enough to treat your ferret’s insulinoma symptoms.
Recommended doses for ferrets range from .5 to 2 mg/kg PO q12h (this means .5 to 2mg per kg of your ferret’s weight every 12 hours). Moose started his dose of Prednisolone at .25mg twice per day (it is compounded with Ferretone to come out to .25ML of liquid into a syringe).
Just for reference: 1mg is 1/1000 of 1ml. Moose’s compounded medication is 1mg per 1ml (in other words; .25mg in a single .25ml dose). If the Prednisolone medication was not compounded (mixed) with something else, the dosage would be 1/1000th the amount shown above. Too small to work!!
Should I Give My Ferret Liquid or Pill Prednisolone?
Ferrets are almost exclusively given liquid form Prednisolone because their dosage is so small and it can be more accurately calibrated. Liquid Prednisolone is also available to be mixed with Ferretone at a compounding pharmacy to encourage your ferret to accept the medication. We currently pay $35 per month for Moose’s Ferretone Prednisolone compounded medication.
Mixing Prednisolone with Ferretone?
Ferretone is a product by 8 and 1 found in Petco and PetSmart. Though it is marketed as a regular supplement, it is not recommended as a healthy treat in most ferret communities. The only acceptable use we have seen is the use of Ferretone to encourage taking medication.
Veterinarians will often recommend you mix your ferret’s Prednisolone medication with Ferretone to increase its palatability (tastiness).
Though Ferretone does NOT contain sugar, Ferretone is controversial because it contains two preservatives known to cause cancer -BTA and BHA. With ferrets having such high cancer rates already, it is a good idea to steer clear of Ferretone if you can.
That being said, Moose currently takes Prednisolone that is mixed with Ferretone through a compounding pharmacy. We are currently researching and exploring other options.
Medication Interactions with Prednisolone for Ferrets
Carafate is a medication used to treat ulcers that coats the stomach lining of a ferret (think of it like a temporary band aid). Because of its sticky, coating properties it can prevent the absorption of other medications. If your ferret is on Prednisolone, it is very important that you space out Carafate and Prednisolone. Our vet recommends waiting two hours after a Carafate dose to give Prednisolone.
Should My Ferret Eat with Prednisolone or Take on an Empty Stomach?
Prednisolone irritates the lining of the stomach. You should always get your ferret to eat before or immediately after taking Prednisolone.
How Do You Store Prednisolone?
Prednisolone should be stored at room temperature out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources.
What Should I Do If My Ferret Misses a Dose of Prednisolone?
DO NOT DOUBLE THE DOSE to make up for a missed dose. If you only miss a single dose of your ferret’s Prednisolone, take the following dose at the usual time, in the normal amount.
It is important to give your ferret Prednisolone at the same time every day to keep their blood glucose levels as steady as possible.
What Happens if You Stop Your Ferret’s Prednisolone Suddenly?
Prednisolone is a man-made steroid that mimics your ferret’s body’s own cortisol. If your ferret has been on Prednisolone for longer than 3 weeks, their body has adjusted its own cortisol amount to accommodate the Prednisolone.
For humans, Prednisolone will remain in the body for 16-22 hours. Because ferrets metabolize and digest much faster than humans, it is safe to assume Prednisolone remains in a ferret’s body for a shorter amount of time.
If you stop your ferret’s Prednisolone medication abruptly (for longer than 1 missed dose), they could experience withdrawal:
What are the Long Term Effects of Prednisolone for Ferrets?
Prednisolone for ferrets is an immune suppressant. This makes it harder for your ferret’s body to fight infections. It is important that you keep your ferret away from stressful situations and far away from sick humans or ferrets that could spread illness.
Insulinoma is one of the most common illnesses in ferrets and Prednisolone is the most common medication prescribed to treat it -I knew we could all use a thorough explanation of the medication we have all heard about at some point! Book mark this page to easily find it at a later date!
Do you know if your ferret has Insulinoma? We found out Moose had Insulinoma by checking his blood glucose levels with the AlphaTRAK2, the only blood glucose monitor our vet recommends for ferrets. Get one today and start monitoring your ferret’s blood glucose this week!
16 replies to “What is Prednisolone for Ferrets?”
Debra Ann
Hey there fellow ferrents! Thank you for this article. I noticed you were looking for an alternative to ferretone…My Axel has been taking Prednisolone mixed with Molasses through a compounding pharmacy. He loves it and has been taking it this way since day 1 which has been about a year now. Just wanted to share a healthier option…hope your baby is doing well!
Haley
Debra,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Moose has his compounded with Ferretone which is sugar-free but super oily so he loves the taste. In fact, we’ve been able to use his medication time as little mini training sessions (coming when he’s called, standing up, rolling over). He has no idea it’s medication! Does your vet have any concern with molasses spiking your ferret’s blood sugar? I’d love to hear more.
Moose is doing well. He’s 5.5 years old now. He is definitely slowing down but he is still such a happy little boy! Thanks for asking 🙂
Linda
Thank you for this info…
Silka
This article is so helpful! My little lady has been taking prednisolone and diazoxide for about 2 years now and in the last week her hair has started growing back, and quite rapidly. Do you know what this means? I will be taking her for a check up soon, just to see what the vet has to say. Her mood has improved and she’s actually running around and playing again which is so nice to see.
Haley
Hey Silka! I believe steroids like Prednisolone do in fact promote hair growth in ferrets! That’s great to see it working so well for her. It is also the time of year when ferrets shed and switch coats, so that could be a factor. I’m glad to hear you are taking extra precautions, but I’m glad to hear she has improved 🙂
Mai
I’d say it’s highly doubtful it’s the steroids that has led to regrowth of fur. As mentioned in the article, steroid use can inhibit regrowth of hair in shaved areas. It’s also known to cause alopecia in other species’. If the ferret in question has had a lack of fur I’d think there might be issues with adrenal disease involved. Maybe they got a new implant of suprelorin inserted recently…? That can lead to new hair growth. Or supplements with melatonin. That it’s due to having been on prednisolone during two years is just highly unlikely…
Valerie
So if a ferret is given Prednisone and not the other one, could it cause high liver/kidney values?
Angela Smith
I use compounded milk thistle to protect their other organs
Lindsay
I recognize that pharmacy counter from the picture! We get our boy Garrus’s Pred at the same place. His brother Weaseley started drooling and pawing at his mouth tonight so he’s seeing Dr Knudsen ASAP for what will most likely be another Insulinoma diagnosis. I’m glad you’ve gotten Moose’s under control, and I’m always happy to see other Lincolnite ferrants.
Larry ciolino
How long can ferrets survive on medication for insolanma
Haley
It depends on far along your ferret has developed the disease. Our Newty lasted about a year once we started medication, but he already had had a seizure. Moose is still going 2 years later on prednisolone and I believe it is because we caught his disease sooner.
Renee
Our ferret has just been put on Prednisolone (.02ml every 12 hours) and that was all i was told to do. didnt know i was suppose to feed her before giving it to her and she has been throwing up a few mins after.
Dustin Flavell
Get a different vet, they labeled moose as a rodent when in fact they are not rodents or related to a rodent at all. Rodents all have teeth like beavers and mice, ferrets are predators.
Haley
Good catch! Thankfully this was just an error on the clerk’s part at the Pharmacy where the Carafate was compounded. We have a very knowledgeable vet thankfully!
Christie
One of my ferrets had been on medication for a little over a year, and our vet recently told us it’s no longer working for him. We still give it to him, because I worry what will happen if we just stop. The vet told us we can give meat flavored treats and baby food to help supplement. He’s been mostly fine. Gets a little shaky here and there. I give him the baby food and a little bit of corn syrup and that seems to help. I’m worried about him suffering though. When will I know once it’s time to let him go peacefully?
Lynne
My ferret started prednisolone February 1. I asked the vet about also adding probiotics to help with any stomach irritation. Started him on Marshall Probiotics 11 at the same time. So far, no tummy issues, so maybe the probiotics help.
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