OK, I hope this doesn't cause a controversy, but I have a question about
adrenal disease (I know that's not the formal, official name of the
disease, but you all know what I'm referring to).
 
*My* summary of symptoms: Loss of hair, regression to pre-altered states
(agression in males, nurturing in females), swollen vulva in females,
enlarged prostrate in males.  Not all symptoms appear in all affected
ferrets.
 
*My* summary of treatment options: Surgery, lupron injections/pills (I'm
doing this at work, and now I'm questioning the name of the medication
and method of administering it, but I believe that's the right name), and
melatonin implants.  As far as I am aware, the second two simply reduce
the symptoms, and most likely have little or no affect on the actual
adrenal gland.
 
*My* summary of causes: uncertain, but possibly linked to the ferret
having too few hours of complete darkness.
 
So far, I believe all of this information to be scientifically accurate
as far as it is currently known.
 
However, what I don't know, and can't find any information on, is what
threat the abnormality of the adrenal glands actually is to the health of
the ferret.  I mean, I know the enlarged prostrate is a life-and-death
problem for many male ferrets.  But I'm curious - does the adrenal
problem threaten a ferret's life directly, does it increase chances of
other deadly diseases, or is there some other threat I haven't thought
of?
 
Feel free to reply directly to me via email, or I suppose, to the FML if
you prefer.  Thanks for any info you can give.
 
Debbie
[Posted in FML issue 4956]