From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2001-03-30 15:53:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Re: Early neutering
There was indeed ONE case report of an intact ferret with adrenal
gland disease (JAVMA 203:271-275;1993). There was also an
interesting
article from the Netherlands that did follow ferrets that were
spayed
or neutered at different ages. Interestingly all of the ferrets were
prone
to adrenal gland disease roughly 3.5 years after the
surgery(regardless
of what age they were when the surgery was done). This seems to
point to
long photoperiods and spay/neuter as the major parts of adrenal
gland disease.
As Dr Williams pointed out black footed ferrets are not spayed or
neutered and
do not get adrenal gland disease.
As for "hormone therapy," Lupron and Melatonin both lower the LH/FSH
levels
and that is how they control the adrenal gland disease.
Jerry Murray, DVM