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INTRODUCTION TO ADRENAL DISEASE

A Ferrets adrenal glands are situated above the kidneys and are responsible for producing sex hormones. Adrenal disease in ferrets occurs when there is a tumour in the adrenal glands. If left untreated the disease becomes fatal.

Adrenal disease is said to be quite common in American ferrets but less common in ferrets from other parts of the world. It is also a disease that is found mostly in middle ages and older ferrets.

There is no clear evidence to why adrenal disease occurs but scientists believe that neaureting at a young age contributes to it. It is thought that diet, stress and sunlight exposure might also be a factor. However the biggest cause is said to be genetics and the disease being passed through the blood line. Research into adrenal disease in ferrets are ongoing.

SYMPTOMS

The first symptom of adrenal disease starts with hair loss. The hair loss usually starts at the tail and works it's way up to the neck, leaving just the head with hair.

Symtoms to follow include:

- Thin, dry and itchy skin

- Swelling/discharge from the vulva (in spayed females)

- Prostate enlargement/difficulty urinating (in males)

- Lethargicness/weakness

- Swollen belly

- Unusual agressive behaviour

- Unusual marking (in urine)

- Unusual mounting behaviour

DIAGNOSES AND TREATMENT

If a ferret displays any of these symptoms then veterinary assistance needs to be sought immediately. A vet will usually be able to tell right away if the ferret has adrenal disease (by clinical diagnoses) but none the less, tests need to be carried out before treatment begins (particularly to rule out insulinoma - tumour of the pancreas). These tests include x-rays, blood tests and ultrasounds. The ultrasound will the locate the effected gland.

To treat adrenal disease surgey needs to be carried out, which involves the effected gland being removed.

Adrenal disease can occur in both glands but in most cases the gland effected is the left gland (it is still unsure why). The left gland is relitvley easy to remove, however the right gland is situated nearby a major blood vessel and is harder and riskier to remove. Surgery on the right gland may require a specialised ferret surgeon, or alternativley only part of the right gland is removed (although the disease usually returns when this method is used). There is around a 10-12% mortality rate when this surgery (on either gland) is carried out. In some cases both glands need removing.

Once the gland has been successfully removed, more than 90% of ferrets are rid of the disease and go on to live a long and normal life.

If a ferret is a high risk case and cannot be operated on (too old, weak, etc) then it can be given a drug called Lysodren, which does not rid of the disease or the tumour but controls the symptoms.

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