Message Number: SG14909 | New FHL Archives Search
From: dhaner@twcny.rr.com
Date: 2005-08-04 23:50:54 UTC
Subject: 3 ferrets with sudden "rat tail"
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <3764192.1123199454947.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>

Hi all- A strange thing has happened recently at our house. I have 4 ferrets. Within the past 2-3 weeks three of them have developed varying degrees of rat tail.

Hair loss, starting at the tip and specks in the skin. There is no evidence of fleas, they were all "Advantaged" last month. These ferrets range from 3-7 years old, there have been no changes in diet. I'm wondering what could have caused this. I know some support the idea that it is an indication of adrenal disease, but I find it hard to believe that all three have developed adrenal disease at the same time.

The only possibility I can think of is that I've been running the air conditioner day and night due to the heat wave here in the northeast. Is it possible that the lack of humidity can cause rat tail?