From:
"Tressie"
Date: 2011-05-04 09:59:49 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Re: My vet says possible Adrenal Disease, but I'd appreciate other opinions!!
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
While progressive hair loss is one of the clinical symptoms of adrenal disease not all ferrets with adrenal disease experience it. Same thing for enlarged vulvas.
Abnormal scratching is another symptom of adrenal disease.
I've had ferrets who had NO hair loss, no enlarged vulvas who on necropsy were found to have adrenal adenoma!
Sounds like you have an excellent veterinarian and if she suspects adrenal disease and is willing to treat her for it, you are fortunate that she is not insisting on the expensive Tennessee Panel first! Go with your vet's advice and if she has adrenal disease the treatment (Lupron Depot or Deslorelin) should make a difference in her itchiness and coarse tail hair. However, the Deslorelin implant does work more gradually. Give it a couple of months before you give up on it.
Dragging the butt after elimination is a normal behaviour in ferrets, its a marking behaviour.
Ferrets take a while to adjust to a new food and if your vet recommended mixing it half/half then that is how it should have been given. I know its challenging, especially if the ferret LOVES the new food. However, I would try again and keep mixing it in the proportion it was recommeded to you.
Most ferrets will get diarreah if suddenly switched to a new food. As your vet advised you, it takes several weeks, sometimes months to fully adjust to a new food.
In terms of the enlarged area in the abdomen - ask your vet about it. It could be perfectly normal or if abnormal she may palpate the area or order diagnostics to determine what is going on there.
As with anything with ferrets, it takes patience and persistence; )
Tressie
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