From:
AFERRETVET@cs.com
Date: 2003-05-10 22:14:39 UTC
Subject: Re: steroids/adrenal glands
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <b7.31b8b6ea.2beed3cf@cs.com>
Hi Dr Karin and Sandy,
Giving steroids like pred will actually suppress the
HPA axis and thus the adrenal glands. This will not cause
the adrenal glands to oversecrete the sex hormones or lead
to hyperplasia/tumor formation of the adrenal glands. Ferrets
are steroid resistant for the most part. Usually we use pred
on a long term basis only in older ferrets with insulinoma or
lymphoma. Therefore pred is not the reason for adrenal gland
problems. The current theory is that neonatal spaying/neutering
(<6 weeks of age) combined with continous long day photoperiods
(indoors with artifical lights, >14 hours a day) stimulates the adrenal
gland via a modified HPG axis where the adrenal glands (zona
reticularis) responds like a gonad. This chronic overstimulation leads
to the hyperplasia and tumor formation in the adrenal gland.
Now for my questions: at what age do they spay or neuter the
pet ferrets in Brazil and do the owners keep the ferrets indoors
or outdoors in Brazil?
Jerry Murray, DVM
Dallas, Texas