From:
"joclynatuo"
Date: 2008-01-24 19:07:25 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: Hair loss on tail
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
i have a two year-old female - from a pet store, so she was neutered
and descented before i took her home, she was also a panda that has
now roaned to marked dew.
born sept 1. at about 4 months old (january), she lost most of her
tail fur. at almost a year old (the following august), it grew
back. the following january/february she again lost the tail fur -
not all, most. i explained the situation to the vet when she was in
for her yearly (previous visit had been with a dif doc who is not
the resident 'expert'; this one is the expert). he said keep an eye
it may just be seasonal. that's actually what i'd thought too -
with the thinking that it was also indication that she'd become
adrenal at some point. her physical was good and he wasn't
concerned about adrenal - just recommended i monitor what was
happening.
late summer, when the fur came back, it came in fuller than it had
previously. then a couple of months later, i noticed her fur had
turned orangy on the tail. only on the tail. now, it's january and
she's again losing the fur.
i've had 2 and then 3 other ferrets with serious illness so i
haven't had her in for a check about it. the thing that really
bothered me was the orange fur. that's clearly a hormonal thing.
i'd seen that with one of my older girls just this past year - she
had ibd is one of the ones that's been sick this past fall. we
never got her situated enough with the ibd and the resulting
weightloss to have her in for surgery to check the adrenal glands
(my vet rarely does the tennessee panel). in fact, adrenal wasn't
even thought about until near the end of her life (i didn't make the
connection with the orange fur and hormones until after the fact and
by then, the situation with the ibd was so at the forefront i never
even mentioned it).
so, basically, i'm posting to relay what i've experienced so that it
can be added to all the other info. until that orange fur showed up
i wasn't too concerned about the loss - it always came back with the
next 'shed' and she was young, so, no big deal, right?
after reading all these posts AND the orange fur, i'm sure that
something is going on here. she's just over 2 years now, so, it's
getting on to when this nasty disease starts cropping up. i'm down
to 2 sick babies and both are improving enough that i can focus on
this issue, now.
question: has anyone ever done surgery to remove that one gland
before onset of symptoms and/or before tumors are evident? (i know
that lupron and/or melatonin is sometimes used for a bit before
surgery is done).
thanks, for a VERY informative and insightful thread as well as
answers to my question.
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