From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2003-02-04 02:04:12 UTC
Subject: Frequent scratching --> bald spots
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20030203.213714.2784.14.kazpat1@juno.com>
Several good places for info on adrenal disease in ferrets.
The archives here,
www.ferretdoctor.com
www.ferretcentral.org
from ferret central there are links to other sites.
The bald spots from adrenal are almost a complete bald area
that the skin looks a little dry or scratched at , but not crusty
or red or puffy like with an infection or broken hairs around it
like with some types of ring worm. The vet can usually tell
if they are used to seeing ferrets.
Medical and surgical treatments are possible. I recommend surgery
in a younger, otherwise healthy ferret. From my experience
there is sometimes an associated insulinoma, so my vet
checks it all and for some reason I feel I am getting my money
worth when he starts taking out stuff :)
Sometimes they are itchy for other reasons, in a young ferret like
you have it can be adrenal, but not as common. A blood test called
the Tennessee panel can be done, experienced vet check, or
wait and see if other symptoms develop if you vet thinks this is o.k.
Itching from use of fabric softner, too much bathing, or some cleaning
product is also possible. The hair loss from adrenal is not from
scratching in that area, it is from high levels of circulating estrogen
and hormonal changes causing the loss. The itching and scratching
also occur with adrenal disease- sometimes it is a question of
what came first.
Patty
> > One of the posts I pulled up said to suspect adrenal problems if
> there is hair loss anywhere other than the tail. If so, could
> someone point me to some good links for information on adrenal
> problems? (OR, is the hairloss from scratching something different
> - ??) My husband wondered if it could be ringworm. There's no sign
> of fleas.
>
>> Thanks for any help you can send my way...I'm really worried, and
> would like to know what our options will be, and the risks
> associated with them.
>
> Jaime & Gypsum
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