From:
justdookin@aol.com
Date: 2001-10-25 08:30:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Digest Number 442
What's wrong with Simon?
I have sort of a strange problem going on with my Simon. He is
scheduled for adrenal surgery on November 1st. Simon started losing
hair on his stomach, then it started in patches on his middle back
and moved somewhat up and somewhat down and his tail is getting
bald. When I took him to the vet, she said it probably is adrenal.
Last year at this time of year, he started losing hair on his tail
and I was afraid it might be the start of adrenal...but then all of
a sudden I noticed that the hair was coming back and his hair came
in so thick that he became a gigantic furball.
Well, guess what, the hair on his back and tail are once again
starting to come back and his stomach has hair again. There are no
real bald spots and the beginning of fuzz there which was bald. My
husband at first told me that I was wishing...and now he's a
believer, too.
What do you suppose is going on?
Could this just be his shedding pattern? I really don't want him to
go through surgery if it's not really adrenal. He originally was
going to have surgery the 18th, but the vet had to change the date.
Now I'm glad that we've had to wait. This is our first adrenal with
an experienced vet. The thought of surgery scares me to death
because the only other ferret that has had surgery in the past
(supposedly stones in his bladder), died on the table...but it was a
vet who didn't know anything about ferrets...and neglected to tell
us. At that time we thought all vets knew all animals.
We do have another one, Dude who is also having surgery the 1st. He
had adrenal surgery before we got him from the ferret shelter, but
he's got a very bald back end and no hair growing back. I've heard
that it's harder the 2nd time around and they don't bounce back as
fast. I'll have a 3 day weekend to take care of him/them, but will
this be enough?
This is the first time I've posted anywhere. I didn't know whether
to go to the mailing list or the health list.
Thanks,
Connie
justdookin@aol.com