In FML 904 Jessica asked about Cushings disease.
 
The symptoms you described were typical, Jessica. Cushings disease
or adrenal disease seems to be common in ferrets. Our five year
old, Scooter ( hadn't realized that is such a common ferret name
till I started getting the FML) is just recovering from the worst
of it. We thought we were going to lose the little guy but with a
$235 operation and medical management, he's much better now.
 
In March he showed the typical signs..lethargy and hair loss,
particularly at the base of the spine. The vet diagnosed in one
look. He excised the left adrenal gland which was tumourous.
 
All was OK for 6 weeks. We thought the danger was passed. No such
luck. This time he darn near died. As it turned out the right
adrenal gland ( impossible to get to) was tumorous too, producing
and overabundance of adrenilin again. The doc injected anabolic
steriods to get his weight back up ( he had lost dramatically) and
had us administer daily doses of lysodren (to defeat over
production of adrenilin) til Scooter stabilized. One night scooter
was so weak we took shifts staying awake 'cause we though he would
be gone by morning and we wanted to at least feed him water by
mouth tube when he needed it. w
 
But the little guy pulled through and, thank God, our tears were
(so far) in vain. Now he's on oral steriods daily to get his
weight back up ( Winstrol) and he will be forever on lysodren.
 
Bottom line, don't mess around. Get your rug rat to the vet ASAP.
 
[Posted in FML issue 0906]