From:
sukiecrandall@telocity.com
Date: 2002-12-14 20:52:22 UTC
Subject: RE: Adrenal Disease
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <4801067.1039899142934.JavaMail.root@scandium>
>Here in the U.S., hair loss that begins on the rump, across the >shoulders or down the back, etc., is almost always, without fail, the result >of adrenal disease. I'm sure there are those out there that have had a >ferret with hair loss like that and treated for something else and the hair >came back, but in the vast majority of cases in America, it's adrenal >disease.
I agree with Mike.
For many years, like in teh UK early cases either mostly weren't found or weren't seen here in the U.S. (Actually, there weren't many cases among the older ones -- or folks just thought the baldness was from age -- two decades ago; the regular diagnosis of adrenal disease in older ferrets (early neuters included) and the regular diagnoses of young cases happned separated by a number of years.) I don't know if early cases were just more likley to be missed or misdiagnosed then, or if something changed here. My inclination is to wonder if the increased proportion of fancies may have also increased the proportion of some genetic variation that was more susceptible and then the early cases showed up in number, becuase the marked increase in fancies and the mentions of early cases happened about the same time, but that is merely a hypothesis and one of many.
> > What are her chances of surviving the surgery?
> Excellent if done by a competent surgeon familiar with ferrets.
Yes.
> > How long will she live after the surgery?
> There's no reason why Mercury couldn't live out a normal lifespan.
Yes.
And, of course, yes to all the rest.
One note: if both adrenals come out fully or mostly, or if a remaining one is atrophied there is the chance that there will not be enough adrenal products. This is why electrolytes are checked in such situations. Those individuals do very welll on meds: Procorten and Pred, or Florinef and Pred. Our Ashling has been on Florinef and Pred for years and still can grab a television rtemote control and carry it 8 feet high in a closet to deposit it on the top shelf.
Do read up on post-op care tips: no climbing, warm bedding, paper instead of a litter pan with standard litters, etc.