From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2007-05-16 16:19:45 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Rat tail
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
There are not even actual rate number for adrenal disease let alone nuances like that, I'm
afraid.
Don't you have mostly whole ferrets, Chris? While that means there is the risk of some
other health problems like pyometra, testicular tumors, etc. it does mean that the chances
of adrenal tumors is delayed and greatly reduced.
Also, as i recall you always supply nesting boxes.
In our family the majority of the ferrets who have had rat tail have not gone on to have
adrenal disease, but we always keep in our minds as an option. For the most part only
about a third of our ferrets have had adrenal growths and we suspect that the dark
sleeping places have helped because of what is known about melatonin and LH, and
because when we have encountered such problems they have tended to clump usually
about 2 or 3 years after there was an imposed inability to provide a lot a dark places.
Our own current worry is that we might start seeing more than we normally would of
adrenal problems in our four footed family because I went through those recent years in
braces or with cane when I could not kneel or get over the barrier, and Steve could not
access some of the ferret dark places I can get to when I can kneel due to his being so very
tall so our crew had a couple of years when they simply could not get enough darkness
until I was mobil again.
Anyway, sorry about rambling. I don't think that you can know for sure one way or
another if a ferret who gets rat tail will also have adrenal disease. We've seen it in the
minority of cases here. Others have seen it in the majority in their own homes. So, just
keep an open mind and eyes.
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