From:
Ferret Wise Shelter
Date: 2004-08-17 15:01:03 UTC
Subject: PONDERING ALOPECIA in YOUNG ferrets
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <5.1.1.6.2.20040817105012.03016a20@mail.usaexpress.net>
This is a point I would like on list vets to consider and perhaps reflect on.
Although many owners of ferrets who are evidencing adrenal symptoms at far
too young an age might want to ponder these points as well.
In more than 10 years of sheltering ( and 13 years of ferret ownership) we
have seen adrenal symptoms arise in ferrets of all ages. The youngest
ferret presently a male only 11 mos old.
However we also have witnessed adrenal symptoms in a 4 year old late alter
female who upon exploratory had stump pyometra ( and why it took almost 4
years to manifest is anyon'e s guess....) in this case adrenal symptoms
were not reflected at all of adrenal hyperplasia
Also from experience I have seen males in "rut" intact and hormonally
charged do loose hair from their tails during their season, only to regrow
it when breed season is over.
It is to this that I query.. with these young males evidencing hair loss at
a YOUNG AGE-- and perhaps prompting us to jump on the adrenal wagon-- could
it not be that during the mill electro cauterization process they did not
make a clean removal of tissue? That there is in actuality some testicular
remnants at work causing a "rut" effect? Would this not be an avenue worth
pursuing rather than removing an adrenal gland at such a young age...?
We have seen these mis-haps have occurred in the de-scent process over the
years-- so how many early adrenals are no more than stray cells or remnants
form the early neuter process???
JUST MY thoughts on this seemingly widespread epidemic which is centered on
pet shop early alter ferrets -- no specific farm intended!
Alicia D
www.ferretwise.org
End of ferrethealth Digest
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