From:
miamiferret
Date: 2002-02-28 19:20:00 UTC
Subject: Re: Adrenal diagnosis/Ultrasound questions
I'm not a vet but I'll put in my two cents anyway.
Checking only estradiol levels is not good enough. If it's elevated,
adrenal disease may be why, but if its not, it may be one of the
other hormones that is elevated. So, a normal estradiol level
really hasn't told you anything. The U. of Tenn. adrenal panel looks
at three different steroids and this is a pretty definitive test and
will pick up adrenal disease where a test of estradiol levels can
miss it.
Hair loss and aggressiveness... that's enough for me! I wouldn't
waste my money on an ultrasound, which can often be unrevealing even
if the ferret has a raging case of adrenal disease. The adrenal panel
is also not inexpensive. Your vet may not be willing to prescibe a
method of treatment without a diagnostic that she feels is
necessary. I can't help you with that one.
mike