From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-10-26 01:38:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Digest Number 442
--- In Ferret-Health-list@y..., justdookin@a... wrote:
> 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.
>
Dear Connie:
Adrenl disease in ferrets is not really an all-or-nothing thing. In
many cases, the lesion in the adrenal does not produce enough
estrogen to completely prevent the follicle from producing a new hair
shaft, but simply delays the cycle of hair loss and regrowth. The
apparent patchiness of the hair loss does suggest adrenal disease,
but you can run the Tennessee adrenal panel at this point, rather
than proceeding directly to surgery, if it will give you a greater
comfort level with Simon.
Hair regrowth in ferrets who have exhibited baldness consistent with
that seen in adrenal disease should never be used to rule it out.
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM