From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2003-09-25 21:14:57 UTC
Subject: adrenal disease article
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com, ferret-list@cunyvm.cuny.edu
Cc: sukiec@optonline.net, sukie@mac.com
Message-id: <a06002000bb99050847e5@[10.0.1.40]>
Someone on either the FHL or FML asked me when Dr. Bruce Williams'
article on adrenal woes would be out and I said I'd try to reply once
I knew. Sadly, I don't recall who asked so I am hoping that the
reader will notice this or get a heads-up from a friend who sees this
post. Steve and I just received the November/December issue of
"Ferrets" and it is in there. I haven't had a chance to read it yet,
but even from the highlights and captions I have already learned some
things (Never stop learning! :-) ) including:
"Both adrenal glands have lesions in 20 to 25 percent of ferrets
suffering from adrenal disease. Hyperplasia and adenoma comprise 60
percent of all lesions, with the remaining 40 percent being
carcinoma."
On the lilac cover upon a sled there is a gorgeous ferret with
traditional markings, a freckled nose, and a very healthy looking
body -- a posture which looks strong and muscular with alert eyes and
without an over-abundance of body fat, a good healthy body appearance.
BTW, we have heard back on Sherman's pathology. He does NOT have an
angiosarcoma (Whew!), he was just starting hyperplasia in the left
gland serviced by the many large and leaky blood vessels (but his fur
loss is still probably more from his long term Pred use though we are
hoping for some re-growth), and his GI problems are consistent with
long term inflammatory difficulties of unknown etiology rather than
an eosinophilic one. Since Pred no longer works for him once he's
recovered long enough from his surgery a combo of antibiotics and a
longer lasting injectable steroid will be tried next. He may come
down to needing Imuran but more gentle responses to his consistent
diarrhea are being tried first to minimize negative risks.