Adrenal Disease in Pet Ferrets

Diagnosing and Treatment Options for Ferret Adrenal Problems

Sep 1, 2009

Domestic ferrets have a fairly high risk for developing adrenal lesions or tumors, which can lead to illness and death. Learn the symptoms and treatments.

Pet ferrets can usually live a long and healthy life with the proper care and diet. However, there are some diseases and illnesses that may affect ferrets, especially as a ferret grows older. Adrenal disease is one of the most common diseases to affect pet ferrets in the United States. According to the Ferret Adrenal Disease article by Dr. Bruce Williams, adrenal disease refers to a variety of growths, from lesions to tumors, on a ferret's adrenal glands.

Symptoms of Adrenal Problems in Ferrets

Dr. Williams explains that the most common symptom of adrenal issues is hair loss, starting around the rump and tail. An enlarged vulva in females or difficulty urinating due to an enlarged prostate in male ferrets is another common sign. The other symptoms can be more difficult to recognize early, such as anemia, excess drinking, and weakness in the hind legs.

It's not known why some ferrets develop adrenal growths. Dr. Williams cites studies that show ferrets suffering from adrenal problems have higher levels of estrogen. The hypothesis is that early neutering and spaying leads to groups of cells in the glands that can still produce hormones to grow, producing more estrogen.

Due to the hormonal fluctuations, aggressive or sexual behavior may be exhibited by an affected ferret as well. This could include sudden biting or attacking cage mates, or marking areas with urine and mounting other ferrets or objects.

Treating a Ferret with Adrenal Disease

The most common treatment for adrenal disease is surgery. Dr. Williams explains that most ferrets have the disease in one gland, the left side being more common with 64% of cases. The left adrenal gland is also much safer to remove, due to the right gland's proximity to major blood vessels. Most otherwise healthy ferrets handle the surgery well, and only approximately 10% of ferrets operated on don't survive.

Dr. Cathy Johnson-Delaney adds in the article the recent development of using the drug Lupron to control adrenal issues. Lupron, according the manufacturer's website, is a drug used to shut down hormone production. She also addresses the drug Lysodren, which some veterinarians prescribe, but which can cause hypoglycemia in ferrets.

Ferrets Showing Symptoms Require a Veterinarian Visit

Many ferret owners, especially those who are not aware of ferret health issues, think that hair loss is normal and purely cosmetic. This can be supported by the fact that other symptoms may be missing or mild, says Dr. Williams. But ferrets who do not receive treatment will progressively get worse, and will eventually die.

Surgery and medication can be stressful to the animal, but it significantly increases the quality of life and the expected life span. Dr. Williams recommends taking a ferret showing hair loss or any of the symptoms to an exotic animals veterinarian knowledgeable about ferrets.

Preventing Adrenal Disease

Unfortunately, there's no known way to prevent adrenal disease in pet ferrets. Research is still being conducted to find the cause of these issues. Catching symptoms early and getting prompt and proper treatment is the best method for keeping a ferret healthy despite the risk of adrenal disease.

Even if a pet ferret's lost hair grows back, it can still be an indicator of adrenal issues. Dr. Williams says that most blood tests for estrogen levels are unreliable, but ultrasounds may show an enlarged adrenal gland. Most veterinarians perform surgery based on the presented symptoms.

Ferrets With Adrenal Disease Can Continue to Live Long and Happy Lives

Luckily for ferrets and owners, adrenal disease isn't a death sentence. With surgery or medication the symptoms and damage of adrenal disease can be reversed, if the disease is caught in time. Education about the symptoms of adrenal disease and a watchful owner are the best tools for keeping pet ferrets healthy.

The copyright of the article Adrenal Disease in Pet Ferrets in Pet Diseases is owned by Jessica Kolifrath. Permission to republish Adrenal Disease in Pet Ferrets in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.