1 of 8

Write now Article Tools

"Love me love my ferrets". Ferrets are one of the popular pets for ladies. Guys like them, and children love them, too. However, the adrenal disease destroys this lovely happiness: it makes a ferret abnormal and sick. The adrenal disease usually occurs in ferrets in spring or fall. The ferrets may suffer from excessive growth of the adrenal gland(s), called hyperplasia, which leads to the overproduction of sex hormones.

Therefore, the tumor announces the adrenal disease in ferrets, which can be benign or malignant. It may affect the blood vessels and the internal organs next to it. Adrenal disease is a common disease among the domesticated ferrets. If you keep ferrets, you may want to know the symptoms of it and how to treat it. Common symptoms of the ferret with adrenal disease are apparent, and you can tell it easily. Since there are excessive sex hormones, the growth of the ferrets become abnormal. The following are the symptoms and signs of this disease in ferrets:

* Symptoms

1. Hair Loss
Hair loss usually starts from the end of the ferret's tail, and move up to its shoulders symmetrically. It may become almost "naked" but for a few small patches of hair here and there. Some of the ferrets which suffer from adrenal disease may "lose face".

2. Lethargy
The ferrets which are suffering from adrenal disease become lazy, and they are reluctant to move around. The lack of movements is another sign of the adrenal disease.

3. Other Symptoms
There are some other symptoms: muscle loss, an orangey skin color, weight loss, potbelly appearance. Male ferrets become aggressive and may have urinating problems; female ferrets usually develop an enlarged vulva, and some of them become aggressive, too.

* Diagnosis

Based on the signs and symptoms mentioned above, you can know that your ferrets suffer from adrenal disease. However, it you ask a veterinarian to diagnose your ferrets, he/she will give a ferret routine blood test. Ultrasound may identify an enlarged gland which can help to determine that the ferret is suffering form adrenal disease.

* Treatments

Veterinarians can tell if a ferret has caught adrenal disease simply by judging from the signs and symptoms displayed by the ferret. They usually suggest two ways to treat the adrenal disease in ferrets. One is the surgical treatment, and the other is to use the proper drugs. The former is effective but with risks; the latter is easy, but it takes much longer time and there are side effects.

1. Surgical Treatment

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Adrenal disease in ferrets: Symptoms and treatments?
We want to hear your view. Write now!