From:
sunnyfieldz@yahoo.com
Date: 2001-10-23 04:10:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Rastis licking hinself bald
I agree with Mike's post. Yoda's hair loss didn't happen in the
typical pattern. It started on the top of his head(which I
attributed at first to a flea outbreak...and then food
allergy on the advice of my vet..) then the tip of his tail. It
stopped during the summer, so I had a false sense of security.
When his fall shed started, his tail rapidly became sparse of
hair.....and then before I could schedule surgery, he was scratching
bald spots that were evident when you brushed his hair the wrong way
with your hand. He also was itchy, extremely itchy.....which the vet
said Monday is a symptom of the adrenal disease.
I ended up having to take Yoda two hours away...to an exotics vet to
get him treated.
I don't want to alarm you.....but I will tell you that you do not need
to wait if it is adrenal related. In male ferrets, adernal disease
causes a enlargement of the prostate, which sqeezes their
urethra shut...and then they can't urinate(which is a life threatening
situation.) I almost lost Yoda Sunday because of this. And his
treatment costs increased dramatically because of it also. His
emergency care costs are almost as much as what his treatment and
surgery will be this week. If I had gotten him in sooner..it would
have been better for us all.
I had to take him a two hours drive to an exotics vet who is very
highly recommended. It is alot of trouble for me....but I feel Yoda
is in the best hands. the bad news is I can't visit him like I
would like. I just have to get updates via phone. If you need to find
a good vet in your area...contact local ferret shelters. Someone on
this list suggested that to me(thank you!!)...and I used that to
ensure I found a vet who could deal with the situation at hand.
hopefully I can pick him up Friday after adrenal surgery and he can
return to his profession of carpet digging and sock stealing.....
Melissa and the still hospitalized Yoda.
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "Mike Janke" <mjanke@m...> wrote:
> That photo of Rastis sure looks adrenal related to me. He's
probably
> licking as a result of the itchiness caused by adrenal disease
rather
> than the licking causing the hair loss.
>
> Hair loss caused by adrenal disease doesn't always progress up the
> back. One of mine had her left adrenal and 3/4's of her right out
> and the only hair loss she had was at the base of the tail, much
like
> Rastis, but less hair loss. She never had a swollen vulva either.
> Another one had overall thinning and hair loss on the tops of his
> feet.
>
> Thanks for the good photo. It sure helps to actually see the
> problem. You need to seriously consider adrenal disease in this
case.
>
> mike
>
> --- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., "reanee gladden" <reaneegadden@y...>
> wrote:
> > My Rastis is about 5-6 years old and he has been licking at a
spot.
> I
> > noticed a balding ring around the tail and kept an eye on it to
see
> > if the balding would prgress up the back in the typical adrenal
> > pattern. Instead he has been licking the the balding is going down
> > his leg and around to his rectum.