From:
TR1212@AOL.COM
Date: 2010-05-22 14:56:28 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Re: tail hair a bit too thin
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
Sukie,
You mentioned that adrenal disease has been seen more often in certain
households.
>BUT THE ONE THING THAT IS
>SEEN OVER AND OVER WITH FERRETS, INCLUDING AMONG VETS
>IS THAT EXPERIENCES SEEM TO VARY ENORMOUSLY BOTH BY
>HOUSEHOLD AND POSSIBLY BY REGION
Why would this be? Is it because there's a possibility of having several
ferrets from the same lineage, or breader in the home?
Thank you,
Tiffany
[Well, that is kind of the 64 thousand dollar question.
Certainly, some of it may be genetics. We already
know os at least one genetic contributor.
On the other hand, just as with human health where
people who take better care of themselves live longer
and have fewer of certain problems it might be in the
husbandry for an unknown number of ferrets. (That
is in rates since there are always exceptions.)
As per the vet comments in past FHLs, low levels of
melatonin can trigger the production of too much
FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and LH (Luteinizing
Hormone). Too much circulating LH is the known trigger
for developing adrenal tumors. There is loads of research
on that score, a large amount of it on ferrets, with work
done in a wide range of countries around the globe.
Melatonin is produced by the body when the individual
is in enough darkness. Light shuts off the production
of melatonin, and very dim light reduces the production
of melatonin. The worst wavelengths for disrupting the
production of melatonin are blues (worst) followed by
greens (next worst). The safest known wavelength of
light is the amber color wavelength.
When you think about it this makes sense. When Spring comes
there are longer days so to have foraging or hunting time even
crepuscular animals (those with peak activity at dawn and dusk)
who are not normally out during the daylight still get more light
exposure.
Normally then the reduction in melatonin and resulting increase
in FSH and LH would signal the beginning for reproduction
and when that is done the reproductive tissue would send out
their own hormones which would shut off the increase in LH
and FSH.
A ferret who has been neutered lacks the ability to signal for the
reduction in LH and FSH production, so when too much light
exposure in turn starts the body producing too much LH and FSH
then there is trouble down the line with tumors slowly starting,
cell by cell and then taking off.
Caught early enough, producing enough melatonin again might
be able to slow or stop the process, allowing the body to fight
tumors (when it can since some individuals genetically lack some
tumor fighting abilities), so providing enough darkness right from
the start may help avoid adrenal tumors or might be corrective.
Remember that the body's own melatonin is the best and most
effective. The implants are second best, better than oral.
If more melatonin is not enough for an existing tumor (though it
may be enough after surgery removes the bad adrenal if the
other adrenal does not yet have a tumor or has only a
very beginning one) then a harder hitting medication like
Lupron depot or deslorelin implant will be needed. Otherwise,
surgery and care to not over-expose to light (especially blue and
green lights) when possible might be enough (although the Lupron
depot or deslorelin implant should not harm so could make sense
to use as well after an adrenal surgery as a possible preventative).
The reality that melatonin is produced during darkness is a conceptual
problem for some folks, but once that sinks in then the rest just flows
from there.
Another thing which might help may be level of exercise. Like
melatonin research there is a lot of work on a range of hormonal
malignancies in many types of mammals (including humans)
which indicates that exercise reduces rates of a number of types
of hormonal malignancies.
Obesity can increase the risk rates of some hormonal malignacies
and parts of the exercise research going on are attempting to tweeze
out the effects of the hormones and inflammatory compounds that
fat (which is an active endocrine organ) produces vs. the benefits that
exercise creates. Of course, avoiding obesity AND getting a lot of
exercise is better, but that is not always possible. Add on having
enough access to darkness for about 14 hours in each 24 (per
past FHL vet posts) and that may be the healthiest combination.
There is a lot more on this topic in the FHL Archives:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
-- Moderator (SDC)
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