From:
Heather Williams
Date: 2010-02-05 19:29:23 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Need Advice - Adrenal ferret
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Every ferret is different.=C2=A0 I have had minimal experience with ferrets=
who have survived adrenal surgery but the experience I've had has taught m=
e no fuzzy will respond the way I think it will!=C2=A0 It is true that fur =
compromised from the adrenal disease will continue to fall out after surger=
y.=C2=A0 How much fur is compromised is never easy to tell until you have a=
nearly bald ferret on your hands.=C2=A0 New fur will likely not grow in un=
til the old is gone.=C2=A0 You might want to consider having blood drawn to=
test Isis' hormone levels.=C2=A0 This is not the Tennessee panel but somet=
hing a=C2=A0ferret knowledgeble vet should be able to do in the=C2=A0office=
.=C2
{?????? Vet offices don't run those sorts of panels as far as i know.
Are you thinking instead of the running the sodium/potassium
levels which would make sense if the left adrenal is atrophied
to avoid any possible Addisons related crises?
Could you, please, check with your vet's office on what levels
were run and where they were run?
-- Moderator]
=A0 Remember,=C2=A0regular adrenal disease is slow to progress.=C2=A0 There=
is a cancerous adrenal=C2=A0disease that moves much more=C2=A0rapidly but =
it seems to be rare.
=C2=A0 The prognosis isn't as good either!=C2=A0 If your vet said the left =
adrenal was=C2=A0too small to see then it likely isn't being affected by th=
e disease.=C2=A0 It will take some
time though, for it to kick start and begin producing hormones again.=C2=
=A0=C2=A0It has probably not done much work since the right side became enl=
arged.=C2=A0 Once it straightens itself out, you'll=C2=A0likely see=C2=A0ha=
ir regrowth but do look into a hormone check.
=C2=A0
My ferret Niko had adrenal surgery the Monday after Christmas and his hormo=
ne levels have still not leveled out.=C2=A0 He has not started hair regrowt=
h either.=C2=A0 Another ferret, Wookie, had adrenal surgery the first week =
in October and his hormone levels were fine as little as a=C2=A0month later=
and he had a beautiful new coat!=C2=A0 You also mentioned shedding and I j=
ust want to add, none of my ferrets shed when they're supposed to!=C2=A0 Pe=
ppie, who looks just like Isis, just lost his summer coat in the middle of =
January.=C2=A0 He got very thin and I could pull clumps of long white fur o=
ut.=C2=A0 I was almost=C2=A0in panic mode thinking I had another adrenal fe=
rret on my hands.=C2=A0 Two weeks later he's=C2=A0got a beautiful, soft, wi=
nter coat that=C2=A0he'll likely keep until August...like he did last year.=
=C2=A0 He's always been an oddball!=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0
=C2=A0
If you are worried about her weight, try offering her a little duck soup.=
=C2=A0 There are many recipes here on Ferret Health but my favorite is Gerb=
er Chicken (stage 2) baby food mixed with Science Diet A/D.=C2=A0 You can a=
dd water as necessary until you find a consistancy Isis likes.=C2=A0 Niko l=
ooks very thin right now too after his surgery but according to the vet has=
gained 8oz!=C2=A0 He's normally right around 3lbs but has been sitting at =
the 2lb mark since the adrenal hit.=C2=A0 Again, it=C2=A0could=C2=A0be a ho=
rmonal thing.=C2=A0 The weight will go back on when the hormones=C2=A0level=
out and the hair starts coming back.
=C2=A0
Adrenal=C2=A0surgery is common but still very=C2=A0invasive and there is a =
long road to recovery.=C2=A0 As long=C2=A0as her behavior is otherwise 'nor=
mal' I would say she's ok.=C2=A0 If you see behavioral changes then somethi=
ng else might be going on.=C2=A0 Hope this information helps.
=C2=A0
Heather and the Fab 5=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0=
=C2=A0=C2=A0=C2=A0
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