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Adrenal disease in ferrets is not only common but can be deadly. There are some very important things that you will need to know about ferret's adrenal disease. The disease itself is the adrenal glands essentially, not working.

1) Signs To Watch For

The most common sign that you may see, is your ferret losing his or her fur. The skin may be itchy or even red. It also starts around the tail area. Males may have a difficult time urinating and some females may have abnormally sized vulvas. Your ferret may also appear to be lethargic, lazy and tired. Yet another sign is more aggression than you normally would see in your ferret.

2) Once You Notice The Signs

You must go to your veterinarian. If you do not have a veterinarian, you should look a few up in the phone book or on-line. With ferrets, it is important that you call around first and try to see if you can find a veterinarian who has experience with ferrets. Ferrets are not like dogs and cats and will need to go to someone who understands their species. It may be more difficult to call around and find a veterinarian who has the experience with ferrets, but it is vital if you want your ferret to be properly taken care of.

3) Treatments

The most effective and beneficial treatment is the removal of the left or partially right adrenal gland. (It depends on the gland that is causing the problem). A veterinarian would most likely only remove half of the right adrenal gland due to the large vein that is very close to it. The left adrenal gland does not have this problem. This does require surgery and is sometimes not an option if the ferret is too lethargic and weak.

The other option is the usage of a few drugs, Lysodern or Lupren. Both drugs are not nearly as successful as surgery but can be attempted. They are not guarentees, however. Lysodern has been known for causing serious side-effects and not always working. Lupren is relatively new but it has been noted to have less side-effects yet it has also been noted to be less successful than Lysodern. So, as you can see, either option can be harmful. It is best of course to let your veterinarian decide as he or she will typically have more experience with the drugs.

Conclusion

Basically, adrenal disease in ferrets is rather common but can be fixed if caught soon enough. It is important to catch the disease in its early stages becuase then the ferret will be able to undergo surgery. They will not be too worn out by the disease.

Learn more about this author, Gabrielle Schrader.
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