From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2009-07-15 14:08:50 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re:Adrenal treatment (LH levels)
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
> I can't help but wonder how much location may work
> with other factors that increase light exposure to
> up the risk of a second adrenal becoming involved.
>
Hi Sukie,
Well I keep my ferrets in a room with no light, artificial or natural. There is an air cleaner/air conditioner in their room but the green lights are covered over. In addition their sleeping quarters are covered over so that they get pretty well complete darkness when sleeping. Yet I've had several develop adrenal disease.
I live in Nova Scotia, Canada farther north than you. My ferrets do come out into the main area when I am home to play and do get light exposure during those periods of time. However, they are confined to the ferret room during the night when I sleep and during the day when I work. They do go out as needed for vet appointments, however, I never take them out for walks (too many dogs and raptors in the area).
Now all of them came as either surrenders or I got them from a shelter.
I have to think that perhaps light exposure early in life is a significantly contributing factor because they receive minimal light exposure since they've been with me. The youngest ferret I acquired was one of the Ohio rescues and she was approximately 7 months old and had one estrus cycle already. I got her 2 sibs a couple of months later. All three were late spays. One died from JL just before their second birthday, the remaining two are now showing signs of adrenal disease. They are 2 years old.
My gib, 2 years old at the time, had his right adrenal removed last July. It was early enough in the disease process that it hadn't infiltrated the vena cava and the surgery went smoothly. He as well is showing clinical symptoms of adrenal disease again. I've had him since he was one and he's had the same light reduced environment as the rest and yet developed adrenal disease.
While light exposure is a significant factor toward the development of adrenal disease, as stated earlier, I am wondering if light exposure earlier in life is more of a factor??
And in terms of late spays/neuters - both of my late spays are developing adrenal disease. Both of these factors, i.e., light exposure and early spay are non-issues in these ferrets and yet they are developing adrenal disease.
I am guessing here but I suspect genetics i.e., breeding practices may play a bigger role given my own examples.
Tressie
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