Delvosteron

Re: Delvosteron

Ian Mostyn — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 20:00:26 GMT

I wasn't aware of any studies that proved the link between spaying and adrenal gland disease. The data seems to be very sketchy - can anyone provide a link to a proper study? The Schoemaker study showed an incidence of adrenal disease of only 0.55% in a population of mainly neutered ferrets but the numbers of entire females were too low to draw any definite conclusion.

Spaying ferrets before sexual maturity has been shown to increase the risk and adrenal gland problems seem more common in the US compared to Europe which suggests a genetic or environmental cause (day length is an accepted risk factor). However, I haven't seen any studies that show spaying an adult female increases the risk noticeably. According to Schoemaker, it is only a 0.55% risk that adrenal disease will develop in a spayed female so most ferrets will benefit from being spayed compared to having suprelorin for life. If adrenal gland disease develops 3.5 years later (the average shown in the study), the treatment is the same as for non-surgical neutering - suprelorin. Adrenal disease can also occur in entire females.

I have seen no long term studies into the safety of suprelorin implants and although it looks promising, I would suggest it is a little early to say that it is the treatment of choice and suprelorin is contra-indicated. Call me cynical but I suspect commercial interests are driving some of the claims. I await the studies with interest.

Ian

Re: Delvosteron

Mark Holmes — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 19:00:40 GMT

OVH in ferrets is now considered contraindicated since it is associated with adrenal neoplasia. Suprelorin implants are now the method if choice wrt ferret neutering

Re: Delvosteron

SteveOwen — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:59:02 GMT

[quote user="Ian Mostyn"]

Why not spay the ferret?

[/quote]

Erm, cos it would then get Cushings?

Re: Delvosteron

Ian Mostyn — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:48:11 GMT

Why not spay the ferret? Fairly simple to do and a permanent solution. On the letter about Delvosteron, they stated that they are looking into getting smaller bottles licensed. The VMD should surely be able to fast track any application???

Ian

Re: Delvosteron

SteveOwen — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 18:09:12 GMT

Wow - thank you Kate! I use Ovarid in intractable (only! - don't beat me anyone - even the dermatologists admit that it works better than anything else and should be used if all else fails) cases of miliary eczema), but had no idea it was licensed for preventing oestrus too - just checked NOAH compendium online and it has all sorts of indications for reproduction in both cats and dogs! Great - will work out much cheaper than Delvosteron. And Kate - you can only buy it in 200 tablet boxes - but a whole box costs £100 - doesn't really break the bank! It's the same cost as two bottles of Delvosteron - i.e. what is now two doses of Delvosteron, and a box lasts forever, and always has a good shelf life (I know cos it very rarely goes out of date, and I use it very occasionally in cats.

Re: Delvosteron

Rachael Winder — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 17:15:33 GMT

I do the same, quick gas down to implant. Admittedly they are all pet ones but ultimately £50 ish for 2 years isn't that horrendous?!

Re: Delvosteron

Claire Fisher — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 17:15:12 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]

is it not another ridiculpous EU related decision?

Ovarid is an alternative for heat suppression, unfortunately you cannot get a smaller box than 200 tablets, so worth talking to other local practices and see if they want to buy a share, or at least letting them know you have them in stock. But that is we have done as you need something that can be given straight away if bitch has just come into season, and if they come in on a Thursday evening after the orderline has closed, it may not be until Monday that you can get anything for them and then you are 3-4 days into pro-oestrus.

[/quote]

We had a Virbac lunch meeting recently and they told us that they plan to sell Ovarid in smaller packs but I'm not sure its available yet. She also mentioned that Suprelorin could be used in bitches but I can't remember the details - I can check at work on Monday.

Re: Delvosteron

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 16:46:38 GMT

[quote user="Julian Earl"]

What? Nobody just ignore it?

[/quote]

Re: Delvosteron

Julian Earl — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 12:58:36 GMT

What? Nobody just ignore it?

Re: Delvosteron

Mark Rowland — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:57:24 GMT

Vasectomised hobs the the working ones I do both

Re: Delvosteron

plantagenet — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:56:38 GMT

I wish the RCVS would wade in and say - this is an unscientific ruling which will result in increased costs - ultimately taken by the clients - and potential welfare implications as a result of unecessary pregnancies or problems in jills - our members won't cooperate.

Re: Delvosteron

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:54:32 GMT

[quote user="Mark Rowland"] I gas down ferrets for implants so the cost is a little more than £50. The clients don't seem to mind though[/quote]

You must have pet ferrets rather than working ones!

Re: Delvosteron

Mark Rowland — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:45:41 GMT

I wonder if given all the options if the client were to sign an off licence form it would be ok (as long as the product hasn't changed of course). I gas down ferrets for implants so the cost is a little more than £50. The clients don't seem to mind though

Re: Delvosteron

Kate Richardson — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:41:07 GMT

is it not another ridiculpous EU related decision?

Re: Delvosteron

Martin Atkinson — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:34:22 GMT

Why if it is still the same product that used to have a 28 day licence has it suddenly changed to discard after single use when we know that it would still be safe and work perfectly well 3, nay probably >12, months later? This has nothing to do with product safety and everything to do with bureaucracy. Madness

Re: Delvosteron

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:23:38 GMT

[quote user="Vikki Halliday"]But I do not recall receiving any advise that this was changing from the comapny, and one would have thought that such a fundamental and drastic change to the data sheet would have been brought to our attention?[/quote]

Have you ordered any recently? We got a letter and IIRC they send it to people who had purchased the product in the last 6 months.

Over on a different discussion list it talks about VMD making them harmonise with a European product that is available in single dose vials or withdraw the product.

Re: Delvosteron

Vikki Halliday LLB — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:07:57 GMT

I'm confused.com!

The 2011 NOAH datasheets give the shelf life as 28 days, however checking online this appears to be incorrect and that we should be disposing of the bottle immediately it is broached.

But I do not recall receiving any advise that this was changing from the comapny, and one would have thought that such a fundamental and drastic change to the data sheet would have been brought to our attention?

Anyone any more info on why this has changed and where we go from here?

There are certainly clients who could risk either pregnancy or persistent oestrus in ferrets if we have to charge this out per bottle, perhaps the company could be asked if they are intending bringing it out in single use vials of a more appropriate size than the current 20ml.

Re: Delvosteron

SteveOwen — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 11:01:22 GMT

Thank you! Not heard of using Suprelorin in ferrets. Will have to look it up. Actually other than lasting effect, would also be cheaper for the dose, as I seem to remember Suprelorin costs out at about £50 - half that of Delvo now!

Re: Delvosteron

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:53:04 GMT

I suspect an upsurge in vasecotmised ferrets!

Re: Delvosteron

Rachael Winder — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:43:35 GMT

We had the same issue, though was more for ferrets. We sell out the whole bottle if clients insist on using it. Interestingly though, many clients with ferrets are actually happier to use Suprelorin implants now as a result. Cost-wise they are actually much cheaper as they last 2 years and more clients are getting clued up on the problems with speying ferrets.