From:
Stephen and Robin Price
Date: 2002-03-21 20:37:00 UTC
Subject: Strange hair loss
I have a 4 year old neutered male who has been the picture of health
until just recently (I've had him since he was a kit). A few months
ago, my husband and I noticed the hair on Bandit's shoulders was
beginning to thin out, though not very much. It has been progressing
and now the hair on his belly (from between front legs to approx. his
penis) is almost all gone and between his shoulders is quite thin, not
bald yet. At first I thought adrenal problems but wasn't sure since it
was at the front half of his body, not the back half.
Took him to our ferret vet to possibly have a sex hormone level checked
but didn't do this on his advice, since the hair loss was not typical of
adrenal hair loss. That was about a month ago, the hair loss has
continued. His 2 1/2 year old "brother" occasionally licks Bandit's
shoulder area although I don't see it frequently enough to say its due
to this.
I've also noticed (in the past few days) that he goes to urinate more
frequently but not much urine is let out, although it soaks the hair
right around his penis (more than it used to? I'm not sure). We will
be making another trip to the vet because of this urinating thing very
soon. But any ideas from anyone on the hair loss would be greatly
appreciated!
-Robin (a very worried ferret mom)