>Are there other signs of adrenal tumors other then hair loss?
 
There are many signs of adrenal tumors in ferrets.  The first sign is usually
hair loss.  The loss of hair can involve only the tail or involve the whole
body.  Other symptoms include pruritis (itchy skin), Swollen vulva (females),
return to sexual behavior in neutered males,  skin that is thin and dry, and
abdominal distention.  Unfortunately there is no reliable blood test.  It is
important to note that the tests we use to diagnose adrenal gland problems in
dogs and cats (called Cushings Disease -a completely different disease) have
been proven to be ineffective to diagnose adrenal tumors in ferrets.  There
is a blood test to check estrogen levels (which are suspected to cause the
symptoms of ferret adrenal tumors), but unfortunately as Dr. Williams
mentioned before this test is only evevated in 33% of ferrets with advanced
disease (long after hair loss has been present).
 
The bottom line is...Yes, hair loss is usually the first symptom and the
ferrets don't feel sick at this point.
 
Dr. Weiss
c [log in to unmask]
301-299-4142
[Posted in FML issue 1047]