From:
Ferrethealer@aol.com
Date: 2003-05-31 03:50:24 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Digest 31 May 2003 03:14:09 -0000 Issue 327
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <1f0.9fddd40.2c098080@aol.com>
In a message dated 05/30/03 11:14:37 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
ferrethealth-digest-help@smartgroups.com writes:
> . Well, its been a month and a half since we were there and there has been
> little change. Snowball's thinning areas are a little more visible, but not
> much. He isn't bald anywhere by any means, but his coat is thinner in
> fairly large symmetrical areas one the rear part of his back and you can see his
> pink skin showing through. Has anyone had any similar experience?
This screams adrenal disease to me.
>
> I know that poor nutrition can cause coat changes, but I think we feed him a
> good diet (Zupreem, some Iams kitten as treat food). He hasn't shown any
> other signs of adrenal at all - never overly aggressive, no mating behaviors,
> not itching more than usual - Is there any other cause of thinning hair that I
> am missing? Should I get him tested for adrenal just in case?
I have seen ferrets with severe adrenal disease with no overt symptoms at
all. One of my own recently presented with a prostatic abscess caused by a right
adrenal mass, but he had no signs of adrenal disease at all until he started
having difficulty urinating. So having only one sign does not rule out
adrenal disease at all. You could have bloodwork or an ultrasound done. The
adrenal mass may be palpable by an experienced vet, or may not - I could not feel my
boy's mass at all, but can often feel a left sided mass. I would consider a
second opinion here to be a valid way to go.
>
> Also, we have a vet who is ferret knowledgeable to an extent, but I don't
> think he sees all that many ferrets and I think we could find someone with more
> knowledge and experience with little fuzzbutts. Does anyone know a good vet
> in the Pittsburgh, PA area? I checked the vet database and only found
> three, and none with much info. Thanks everyone!
>
>
LOL! Well, I'm in Murrysville, about twenty minutes (east) from Pittsburgh.
There are quite a few ferret-knowledgeable vets in the area, actually, so if
my office isn't convenient to your location we can refer you to someone
closer. Ruth Heller, DVM, Borderbrook Animal Hospital, 724-327-2200.
Dr. Ruth
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Find it. Fix it. And fly again.