From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2002-02-25 10:42:00 UTC
Subject: ferret with mild adrenal disease
The private e-mail was returned address undeliverable,
so I will post publicly and hope you are reading the FHL:
I believe the ECE caused stress which affects the adrenal
gland and just heightened the symptoms, kind of sped
up the hormone output- I had one positive for adrenal
only started right after I had some skin tumors removed-
the stress doesn't cause the adrenal they already have it
but seems to worsen it.
My other ferret had very minimal hair loss, I took her to
3 vets and no one would do the surgery either- too
early. The next shed cycle she lost most of her
hair in 2 weeks, then no one had any doubt.
The hormones on the TN Panel are the sex hormones,
having ECE or being sick won't elevate these
the lysodren may suppress these, so repeating the panel
after on treatment will give false results, and waste
your money,
The typical hair loss and abnormal TN Panel to me means
adrenal, I would consider surgery but think you can wait
a bit, I don't think any meds for now, if no hair loss
or real symptoms then don't do the meds, they may
cause the adrenal to shrink a little making it harder
to find in surgery later. The people that run the TN
panel provide a phone number where you vet can
talk to the doctor that runs the tests and help your
vet interpret the results.
My opinion, of course discuss with your vet, is
to take off the meds, wait for signs to progress a
little then do the surgery-
If still not loosing any fur or other signs of adrenal
then maybe do the panel again in a few months.
Patty
> Does anyone have any insight on this situation. Should I make the
> switch to lupron? Is it too early to redo the TN panel? Should I
> insist on exploratory surgery? This is my fourth ferret, but my
> first
> experience with adrenal disease and I simply want to make sure I do
>
> what is best for her. My vet is wonderful and relatively ferret
> knowledgeable, but we don't have many where I live because you are
> required to get an expensive wildlife permit in order to keep them
> in
> the city (I live right outside the city limits). While I am not
> wealthy, cost is never an issue when it comes to my babies so you
> don't need to take expense into account when responding. Feel free
> to
> respond to me personally at apollostain@y... Thanks.
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