From:
ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2001-06-23 17:54:00 UTC
Subject: re question was Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Digest Number 250
In a message dated 06/23/01 7:50:18 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com writes:
<< I have a little guy that hasn't had hair on his tail for about a year.
The hair starts to grow back and falls out. He has many blackheads that are
difficult to get rid of. I don't know his history, although a gal that runs
a shelter in Seattle looked at him and said he looked like he had been
malnutritioned. He eats well, and is a major sleeper compaired to my other
little gal, but I have decided they are all different.
Lately, (last 2 weeks at the most) he only pees a very small, quarter sized
amount. Normally he will flood the floor and leave. (you know ferretss, why
use the box when you have the whole kitchen floor?) He urinates often and it
looks like he is maybe straining somewhat. He doesn't cry out in pain, but
you see the muscles contracting on him as he is trying to get it out.
>>
Well, hair loss and difficulty urinating in a male ferret - pointers toward
adrenal disease for me. Certainly it could be unrelated, but still, I would
be actively looking for adrenal disease. Your vet can run a blood test (the
Tennessee panel) to determine that. As far as getting a urine sample from
his bladder - it sounds awful, but I've done it hundreds of times, and the
animals really don't seem to mind too much.
Dr. Ruth
*****************************************
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