Pat,
 
If your ferret is just beginning to show the signs of adrenal disease, you
really do'nt need to rush into surgery.  In fact most vets prefer to wait
a few months to make sure the tumor will be large enough to see when they
operate.  Often a ferret will show clinical symptoms, but when the vet goes
in they can't see which adrenal is affected yet.  So I wouldn't worry about
doing surgery right away.  My guess is that if you wait about 8-12 weeks,
and can come up with 1/2 down, a vet would be happy to work out a payment
plan for you.  That is probably about the right time to do the surgery as
well.
 
Of course I am not a vet, and perhaps a trip to the vet for a true medical
opinion would be in order.
 
Best,
Anne
[Posted in FML issue 3190]