From:
"Julie_Fossa"
Date: 2006-12-11 21:52:43 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Due season - Great question
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Ok, I can't pass this one up! A few things I'ld like to share:
I can't say I believe early spay/neuter plays a very big part in
development of adrenal disease. I've had both, early and late
alters, they were were housed together, fed the same, and developed
adrenal signs at roughly the same ages. One late alter (15 mos)
even developed a malignant tumor younger than the early alters.
My vet has never embraced doing the Tennessee Panel. He performed
adrenal surgeries for me for less than the cost of the bloodwork.
Therefore, we were aggressive at treating ferrets with even early
symptoms, such as rat tail, then thinning hair on the tails. In
every case, an adrenal tumor was removed and verified by pathology.
One of the vets at a Symposium stated that all hairloss on the tail
is adrenal related, and thought it might show up there first due to
extra receptors in the area. I would have to look it up to quote
specifically and who said it.
Based on that, it's my opinion that hairloss on the tail is nearly
always adrenal related. Yes, I do believe concurrent illness or
stress can trigger it, as can poor diet, but I still believe, and
have to agree with Vicki, hairloss on the tail is early onset
adrenal disease.
Alternatively, one case I had was a rather thin, 5 year old male
that came in with a poor, thin coat. He was scheduled for adrenal
surgery but crashed before the appointment. He was put on
supportive care and treated with Biaxin and Amoxi for helicobacter.
He responded well, and following treatment gained weight and
sprouted the most luxurious long silky coat a ferret could dream
of. Nothing changed except treating for helicobacter. Same 8in1
food (he refused to change) with the raisin juice. Just an
interesting case, one which makes me wonder if external causes such
as undiagnosed and untreated helicobacter stresses the system enough
that it triggers other health issues such as adrenal disease.
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, Vicki Montgomery
> So in my mind it is entirely possible that the hormonal
imbalance created by the early spay/neuter (which I don't totally
buy), and the artificially lit world we have created along with very
poor diets (which I totally buy) causes a prewarning via symptoms of
tail hair thinning and hair loss.. Early onset adrenal disease.
>
> But to draw a more informed hypothesis we need people to record
when they noticed tail hair loss, how extensive the loss is, how
long the area remained thin or bare, how old the ferret was when
hair loss began (or when they first noticed it), what the ferret is
eating (all of it.. the M&M they sneak too), what the ferret is
drinking (I.E. bottled vs tap), where the ferret sleeps
(environment, temps, bedding, light exposure, caged or free choice),
where the ferret plays, and origin info if possible.
>
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