To Greg Hastings -
 
>1. the new guy has a cataract on his right eye and another one starting on
>the the left eye, this means he is at least three, correct?
 
        Greg - animals can be born with cataracts.  They cannot be used to age
ferrets.  Aging ferrets is a difficult process with a high margin for error.
You would be better to use the term "adult" instead of trying to pin aan age on
an animal you have no information on.
 
>2. i have another guy, willie--4 1/2 who has lost almost all of his
>hair except for the tail, rear, top of head, legs. he has no other negative
>symptoms. i am concerned that this could be an adrenal problem except
>everything i have read says tail and rear hair loss are major symptoms. he eats
>great, no swelling anywhere, no fever, plays all the time, and gets his 'willie
>scratches'. he pees and poops okay.
>i hate to put him through surgery if all he is going through is the hair change
>time of the year.
 
        This sounds very much like adrenal disease.  Not every animal loses hair
off of the tail. Bilaterally symmetrical hair loss is probably a better
catch-all term for the coat changes in animals with AAE (adrneal-associated
endocrinopathy.
        Time for Willie to see the vet.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 576-2453/2454                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
 
 
[Posted in FML issue 0949]