http://www.smartgroups.com/message/readmessage.cfm?gid=1423922&messageid=4455
 
Giving steroids like pred will actually suppress the HPA axis and
thus the adrenal glands.  This will not cause the adrenal glands to
oversecrete the sex hormones or lead to hyperplasia/tumor formation of
the adrenal glands.  Ferrets are steroid resistant for the most part.
Usually we use pred on a long term basis only in older ferrets with
insulinoma or lymphoma.  Therefore pred is not the reason for adrenal
gland problems.  The current theory is that neonatal spaying/neutering
(<6 weeks of age) combined with continuous long day photoperiods (indoors
with artificial lights, >14 hours a day) stimulates the adrenal gland via
a modified HPG axis where the adrenal glands (zona reticularis) responds
like a gonad.  This chronic overstimulation leads to the hyperplasia and
tumor formation in the adrenal gland.
 
Now for my questions: at what age do they spay or neuter the pet ferrets
in Brazil and do the owners keep the ferrets indoors or outdoors in
Brazil?
 
Jerry Murray, DVM
Dallas, Texas
[Posted in FML issue 4144]