Message Number: YG9709 | New FHL Archives Search
From: mustelidmadam
Date: 2002-01-01 23:52:00 UTC
Subject: cracked bleeding tail (adrenal)

Fifi, my 5 1/2 year old MF girl is scheduled for adrenal surgery in
two weeks. Her tail and rump have gone bald over the last 2-3
months. In the last few days, however, her tail has gone from
bald to extremely dry and irritated. I hate to describe it this way,
but it almost looks like a carrot. It has groves around it as parts
of skin are flaking off. In some of the deeper grooves, it even
looks like there has been some minor bleeding.

I have dealt with a couple of other adrenal ferrets before and they
had some dry thin flaking skin, but nothing to the degree of what
Fifi's tail looks like now. Is there anything I can do to make her
more comfortable before the surgery? Does this sound like a
non-related skin infection or could it be a sign that the adrenal
problem is getting worse and I need to move the surgery date
up? Aside from the bald tail/rump, she has no other adrenal
signs yet including a swollen vulva.

Any ideas on how to moisturize or clear up the ugly carrot tail
syndrome would be appreciated (more by her than me, I'm
sure!).

Thanks.
Debi