http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/message/14518

>Re: Iatrogenic Cushing's
>
>Hi Bonnie, Meryl, and everyone
>
>Looks like there is still confusion, and I hope I did not add to it.
>Let me clear up the confusion about adrenal disease and possible
>Iatrogenic Cushings disease.
>
>First a little definition time.
>Iatrogenic means to inadvertently cause a disease. In other words side
>effects or adverse effects from a treatment or medication. In real
>simple terms, the medicine causes a problem.
>
>Cushings syndrome is an illness from chronic exposure to cortisol. It
>is an illness seen in people, dogs and rarely in cats (not ferrets).
>In DOGS signs include drinking more and urinating more, an enlarged
>abdomen (potbelly), hair loss, muscle weakness, obesity, panting, an
>enlarged liver, increased bruisability, and reproduction problems.
>Again that was signs for DOGS.
>
>Now lets combine the 2 words. Iatrogenic Cushings means having side
>effects from a medication (in this case pred) that is similar to
>Cushings syndrome.
> 
>Why does pred cause side effects similar to cortisol? Because pred
>is similar to cortisol. The side effects of long term use of pred
>in ferrets can include a pot belly (pred belly), a thin hair coat,
>drinking more/urinating more and diabetes.
>
>This is NOT the same thing as adrenal gland disease in ferrets. Pred
>does NOT cause adrenal enlargement or adrenal tumors. Adrenal gland
>disease in ferrets is from the adrenal glands over producing the sex
>hormones and androgens (estrogen, andro, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and
>DHEA) and not from cortisol. Thus the common problem in ferrets is
>very different from Cushings in dogs. Signs of adrenal gland disease
>in ferrets include hair loss and alopecia, itchy skin, increased musky
>odor, swollen vulva in females, enlarged prostates in males, mammary
>gland enlargement, enlarged adrenal glands, anemia, return of sexual
>behavior, aggressive behavior, and loss of muscles.
>
>The only sign from long term pred use that is similar to adrenal gland
>disease is the thinning of the hair coat. Pred does not cause the
>adrenal gland to enlarge or adrenal tumors. Pred does not cause the
>vulva to enlarge or the prostate to enlarge. Pred does not cause the
>return of sexual behavior or aggressive behavior. Pred does not cause
>an increase in musky odor, etc. Most vets (that see ferrets) can tell
>the difference between the very common adrenal gland disease and the
>side effects from long term pred use.
>
>If they are not sure what is causing the hair loss, then a Tennessee
>panel can be done to check the levels of the sex hormones and adrenal
>androgens.
>
>Hope that clear things up,
>Jerry Murray, DVM

carried over with standing author's permission by an FHL moderator:

Sukie (not a vet)

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http://www.ferrethealth.msu.edu/
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http://www.trifl.org/index.shtml
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[Posted in FML 6990]