Message Number: YG5070 | New FHL Archives Search
From: Mike Janke
Date: 2001-07-02 20:40:00 UTC
Subject: Re: very ill ferret, please help

I have to agree with your gut feeling about not doing surgery, at
least not for an adrenal problem. A bald tail can be a precursor to
adrenal disease, but it can also be a condition all unto its own. At
this point, I would be worrying more about his more obvious problems
and I would not put him through the trauma of adrenal surgery while
the other problems are ongoing.

I have never heard anorexia or diarrhea being used in the same
sentence with adrenal disease. I don't believe there's any
connection there unless an adrenal tumor has gotten so large it has
invaded other organs. Ferrets can become stressed over the loss of a
long-time companion, but I don't know if would get as bad as what
you're seeing.

I wish I had some answers for you on what his real problem could be.



--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Stephanie Blue" <BSBlue@p...> wrote:
> My 5 1/2 year old neutered male became very depressed with the loss
of our 8 1/2 year old female. A week ago Thurs night (6/24) he
became lethargic, vomited once, and has had seedy (sometimes green)
diarrhea. My vet (the only ferret knowledgeable vet in the area)
thinks that he has helicobactor. She also wants to do adrenal
surgery because he has a bald tail. She thinks the anorexia and
diarrhea could be in part to adrenal tumors. His bald tail is the
only symptom he has ever shown of adrenal tumors. My gut feeling is
not to do surgery, so at this point I am not going to proceed with
that route