From:
"stephanie.ellis40"
Date: 2009-08-15 16:46:03 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Adrenal disease and our three year old Ferret, "Maverick"
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
As a new member of the group and a first time owner of a ferret, I am seeking advice. Maverick starting losing hair on his tail about 3 months ago. We thought he had Rat Tail (acne) and were treating for that condition. However, when he started getting patchy bald spots on his back we took him to our local vet. The vet tested for mites and sent blood work to the Univ of TN for testing. Test results came back as Estradiol pmol/L 204, 17 OH Progesterone nmol/L .58 and Androstenedione nmol/L 2.6. From what I am being told all three of these results are out of normal range. At that point I was told I should seek surgical treatment. I called a vet who I knew had experience with exotics. Her quote for surgery - 1,200 + dollars. I was shocked. I love my ferret and want to save him from discomfort and death, but have two daughters in college, a husband who might be let go from his job in October and don't know how I can afford this. Am I being unreasonable to think that I can get
this surgery performed by an experienced vet for less? I was told by another vet that medicine or alternative treatment is not effective and ultimately leads to surgery anyway. If anyone has any advice or direction they can provide it would be welcomed and most appreciated.
[There are some who have found the medications to
be very helpful. The trick is to often enough do high
enough levels of Lupron depot (or deslorelin implant
-- importation info in the separate and easily used
FHL Archives:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ )
and a melatonin implant (which Melatek makes).
Medications may be the right choice for some while
surgery is the right choice for others. Nothing in life
is perfect for everyone so it is great to have options.
--Moderator]
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