From:
prockness@hotmail.com
Date: 2003-01-03 00:20:20 UTC
Subject: Adrenal ferret not ready for surgery
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1004663.1041553220572.JavaMail.root@scandium>
I have a 3.5 year old neutered male, Jack, who has had increasing hair loss for the past 3 months. Two of the indicators on the U of Tennessee adrenal panel are positive for adrenal disease, so the vet is quite sure it is adrenal disease.
Ultrasound shows both adrenal glands the same size, so the vet doesn't want to operate yet. I have heard from several experienced owners/shelter owners that ultrasound isn't too good for assessing adrenal glands anyway.
I have Jack on lupron, although it may obscure the symptoms because we are having a cold winter in Massachusetts and he won't wear his sweater and I can't stand to have him bald.
Two questions :
1. How long on average is it between the time a ferret begins serious hair loss and the time a difference in the size of the adrenal glands can be detected by anything other than exploratory surgery?
2. Given that the lupron obscures symptoms, what else can I use to monitor his readiness for surgery?
Thank you,
Susan Prock, Jack, Obiwan and Gabriella
End of ferrethealth Digest
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