From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2001-06-23 21:25:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] question
Have your vet consider adrenal tumor as a differential-
difficulty urinating in male
ferrets can be from an enlarged prostrate related to the
adrenal tumor.
Hair loss is also seen, although it is usually at the base of
the tail and spreads
from there, but can be in a lot of places.
Check out Dr. Weiss site- with pics www.ferretdoctor.com
In the meantime your vet should empty the bladder to relieve
the urine , it can cause kidney problems, and infection.
It can be an emergency if your ferret can't pee.
Patty
Hello All-
I don't post much (not at all lately) but have a vet
appointment on Monday and would like some input before then.
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.
The vet wants a urine sample, and said he might have
crystals in the urethra? Is that something common with
ferrets? I have had this problem with one of my guinea pigs
and he had bladder surgery to remove a stone, but I didn't
know ferrets would do the same. The vet said we might have
to stick the bladder with a syringe and take some urine out.
(sounds awful to me)
I just wondered if the two things, hairless tail and
straining to urinate, could possibly have anything to do
with each other?
The poor little guy doesn't walk right, his back has a
permanent curve in it. He can't flatten out like the girl
and go under very low objects. I have no idea what he was
fed before I got him from the family that didn't want him
anymore. He now eats The Ferret Store brand food.
Any suggestions as to what the vet might look for, or I
should do, would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Cyndy