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Insulinoma in Ferrets

Insulinoma in Ferrets: Symptoms and Treatment 

Updated on February 03, 2023
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Reviewed by Dr. Elyse Macartney
DVM

What is insulinoma? | Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | How to manage it

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The affectionate, smart and playful ferret inspires dedication in many pet parents—anywhere from seven to ten million are cared for as companions in the United States. Yet they are also prone to several unique conditions that can start as early as two or three years of age.  Potential ferret pet parents are wise to do their research before bringing one home. Even after utilizing our Guide to Choosing a Ferret, you may still face some of these conditions, and one of the most common is an insulinoma. 

What is insulinoma in ferrets? 

Insulinomas are tumors that cause the beta cells in the pancreas—which produce insulin—to grow abnormally, causing a mass to develop. They’re a very common type of cancer usually diagnosed in ferrets around five years of age, although it can be diagnosed anywhere from two to seven years old.  

There are two types of insulinoma in ferrets. The first is an insulin-producing adenoma, which is benign—meaning it carries a better prognosis and does not invade surrounding tissues or spread through the body. The second is insulin-producing adenocarcinoma, which is malignant—meaning it grows more quickly and can spread within the body. While malignant tumors are generally more dangerous, both types cause the pancreas to produce too much insulin, so ferrets with insulinoma always require veterinary care. 

What are the symptoms of insulinoma in ferrets? 

Insulin helps the body control blood sugar by lowering the level of glucose in the blood. Because this disease causes an over-production of insulin, the process of regulating is disrupted.  Ferrets with insulinoma first show signs of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar levels. Hypoglycemia also causes the adrenal gland to release adrenaline and cortisol stress hormones, which cause other symptoms.   

The symptoms of insulinoma in ferrets appear suddenly and are usually intermittent, appearing and disappearing, before gradually worsening over time. They include the following.  

  • Excessive salivation 

  • Pawing at the mouth 

  • Weakness, especially in the hind limbs 

  • Weight loss 

  • Lethargy and difficulty waking up 

  • Rapid or slow heart rate 

  • Tremors or seizures 

  • Depression or confusion

  • Low body temperature 

Left untreated, insulinoma in ferrets can cause severely low blood sugar, leading to a hypoglycemic coma and even death. If you cannot wake your pet, seek veterinary care immediately.  

How are insulinomas diagnosed? 

The diagnosis of insulinomas in ferrets involves a review of their medical history, a physical exam and blood work. First, your veterinarian will ask about the symptoms you are observing as a pet parent. Give as much detail as possible, and especially note your pet’s condition around mealtimes. The symptoms of insulinoma in ferrets often go away when food is given, only to return between meals. 

During the physical exam, your veterinarian will note any weakness, ataxia or weight loss. They may perform abdominal palpation or ultrasound, although ferrets with insulinoma typically have small tumors that are difficult to feel by hand or see on an ultrasound. They may also look for signs of secondary adrenocortical disease, like hair loss or thin skin.  

Next, your veterinarian will take a blood sample and send it to a lab to check for low blood glucose concentrations. A high level of insulin but a low blood glucose concentration can be a sign of an insulinoma—especially when the rest of the blood work appears normal. However, your veterinarian will likely want to rule out other hypoglycemia causes.

Diagnosis of insulinoma in ferrets relies on blood work, so it may take several days for your veterinarian to identify this condition. In the meantime, they may suggest you closely monitor your ferret. Once insulinoma is diagnosed, they’ll work with you on a treatment plan.  

How to treat insulinoma in ferrets  

Treatment of insulinoma in ferrets can be surgical, medical or both. Whether surgery is indicated depends on your ferret’s age, overall health and the severity of the tumor. Because surgery won’t completely eradicate an insulinoma and carries some risks, veterinarians may not recommend it for older ferrets.  

If surgery is indicated, your veterinarian will remove the cancerous tissue from the pancreas. Because it can be difficult to see the spread of such small tumors, surgery usually isn’t able to remove all the cancer. It often regrows within months—or, with luck, years—and medication will be required. However, surgery can improve the prognosis of ferrets with insulinoma and give them more time.  

The medical treatment of insulinoma in ferrets involves administering corticosteroid medication. Prednisone helps the body make blood sugar, increasing blood glucose levels—however, the dosage must be continually increased for ferrets with insulinoma. When prednisone is no longer enough, you can add diazoxide, which reduces insulin release. While these medications don’t stop the tumor growth, they treats the symptoms of hypoglycemia, helping to increase your pet’s quality of life.  

Your veterinarian will want to see your ferret every three to six months for blood work and a checkup. They can also tell you more about how to treat insulinoma in ferrets and can put together a treatment plan for your pet. 

How can insulinoma in ferrets be managed? 

There is a difference between treating and managing insulinomas. Home care of ferrets with insulinoma focuses on diet and lifestyle changes that help your pet regulate their blood glucose levels. Exercise, stress and excitement can disrupt blood sugar production, so you’ll want to limit play time and roughhousing and ensure your ferret has a stress-free environment away from noise and disruption. After any exercise or excitement, give them a high-protein snack. 

Ferrets are carnivores, but they’re known to have a sweet tooth, so pet parents must be careful to avoid giving sugary foods like fruit, potatoes or sweet potatoes. Insulinoma in ferrets makes it especially difficult for them to recover from the crash in blood sugar that sweet snacks cause. Semi-moist ferret snacks and food are often high in sugar, so be sure to check the ingredients. If you’ve just brought home a new ferret, take a look at our New Ferret Guide. 

The only time you should give your ferret sugar is in the case of a sudden collapse. You can rub corn syrup or honey onto your ferret’s gums—be careful, as they could bite you—then take them to your veterinarian immediately. Otherwise, you should only feed high-quality, high-protein dry ferret food and make it available to ferrets with insulinoma 24 hours a day so they can graze as needed. Check out our Ferret Care Sheet for more information on the right diet and other tips to help manage your pet’s health.  

FAQs About Insulinoma in Ferrets 

Are insulinomas common in ferrets? 

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Yes, insulinoma in ferrets is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in the species, occurring in an estimated 22 to 25 percent of all ferrets. It’s common in the United States, Japan and the Netherlands and is also seen in the United Kingdom and Australia. It’s also slightly more common in male ferrets but occurs in both sexes. In fact, insulinoma in ferrets is so common that some veterinarians recommend regularly testing for the disease starting around age four.  

What is the prognosis for insulinoma in ferrets? 

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There is no cure for insulinoma in these companion pets—it will eventually progress to a point where euthanasia is required. Ferrets with insulinoma can experience a good quality of life for several weeks to several years after diagnosis, depending on the severity of the disease and the treatment given. Medication alone can help your ferret live anywhere from 6 to 18 months longer, while surgery and medicine together have a better prognosis. In addition, the quicker your ferret begins treatment, the better their outlook will be, so early medical attention is crucial.  

What is the difference between hypoglycemia and insulinoma? 

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Hypoglycemia is a symptom of insulinoma in ferrets—not a separate disease. Put another way, hypoglycemia is not a disease but rather a symptom of an illness. In the case of insulinoma, abnormal cell growth is causing the pancreas to release too much insulin, which in turn causes hypoglycemia. Ultimately, hypoglycemia causes a decline in the ferret’s quality of life, typically leading to euthanasia.  

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