Excessive drinking is not a symptom of adrenal disease but can a symptom
of other things, like diabetes, and should be investigated.
 
Expression of symptoms varies so much that it is impossible to say how
early an adrenal tumor can be found based on symptoms.  It is possible
for a ferret to have quite a large one without symptoms or before
symptoms show up.  Alternatively, some show symptoms so early that the
TN Panel doesn't yet pick up the problem.  (When in doubt either give
some time, use the TN Panel, or try a Lupron challenge to see if any
clearly defined possible symptoms go away.
 
Hairballs: Bill is correct.  Fats/oils do NOT work to help remove
ingested fur.  In fact, since they slow digestion (being harder to digest
than most other things) they do the opposite of what a person wants.  It
is the indigestibility of petroleum jelly which makes it work.  (Being
slippery and combustible aren't definitions of what will work. ;-) --
Just a silly joke!)  Fats/oils can be good for the skin and coat, though,
and for weight gain IF the ferret needs weight gain (More seem to need
added muscle from more activity, and fat loss!  Overweight isn't good for
them just like it has negative health consequences for us and knowing how
hard it is to lose...) and if the ferret isn't having "bird seed" like
lipid balls of undigested fat in the stools or runs from too much fat.
 
Susie, bone and tooth pieces are called "cremains" and do happen
normally.  They are kind of a factor of bone type, bone size, and
temperature.  Some places sift the bones out, some crush them, and some
leave them.  They wind up being a shock sometimes to people who plan to
drift a loved one's ashes into the wind, and they are a reason why at
times reports will be made of small piles of burned remains found near
trails.  Cremains are not at all unusual.  Size winds up being very
small.  First off the fluids are gone, secondly, a lot is consumed and
left as carbon rich gases.  We've had two who died close to each other
cremated together and had a little bag from both together (which was
what we requested) that was the size of a small mouse.  And, yes, there
were cremains in there with some ash.  I have no idea what the green is.
[Posted in FML issue 4484]