From:
"Sukie Crandall"
Date: 2007-12-06 18:09:42 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: i am now confused
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
--- In ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com, Vicki Montgomery <ferretfrenzy@...> wrote:
>
> Now for me - I know aplastic anemia is a concern when jills in
estrus are not bred or spayed, but, I am not aware of that being a
problem with adrenal ferrets. I thought the concern for swollen
vulva's in adrenal females was bacterial infection, same as also in
ferrets in heat.
Yes, it fatal anemia is possible for ferrets with adrenal disease due
to the high hormone levels. It's not terribly common but couldn't
be called rare, either. In the archives are posts with information
about treatment such as
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG15827
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG14332
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG13972
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/SG7882
and there are maybe 8 more.
Also, it helps for people to remember that all individuals have BOTH female
and male hormones normally. The proportions differ but each grouping each
serves many functions in all individuals. For example, the last time I checked
-- which admittedly is years ago -- there are at least dozens of ways the
body uses the androgens (so called male hormones) from muscle building
(which we all need and use) onward, meanwhile hundreds of uses are known
for the estrogens (thought to be older hormones) and it is even involved in
maintaining brain health for every single one of us.
The estrogens and androgens can be changed back and forth into each
other by bodies.
Also, reproductive tissue is NOT the only tissue which makes some of these
hormones. Fat makes them. The adrenals make them (as well as making
some essential steroids -- which is why certain meds are needed to avoid
Addison Crises if there is no functioning adrenal tissue.
In ferrets their typical adrenal disease is Adrenal Associated Endocrinopathy
(AAE for short) which is a hyper-hormonal problem, and just as being
hyper-hormonal from prolonged heat can cause life-threatening anemia in
female ferrets, so can adrenal disease's hyper hormonal condition cause
marrow problems and resulting anemia in ferrets with adrenal disease. I
have not seen a gender break-down for that secondary disorder, and there
may not be one or it may be that normal proportions with the added amounts
on top of those may make females more vulnerable, so I'd love to know if
there is a breakdown.
Sukie (not a vet)
Recommended ferret health links:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html
http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/
http://www.ferretcongress.org/
http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
http://homepage.mac.com/sukie/sukiesferretlinks.html
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