Becki and Escher,
 
With bilateral adrenal gland tumors most surgeons remove 1 & 1/2 adrenal
glands.  The majority of ferrets can live a normal life with 1/2 of an
adrenal gland and not require any medication.  If both adrenals are
completely removed it is likely that the ferret will require lifelong
medication (prednisone and/or Florinef).  There have been reports of ferrets
who have had both adrenals removed and have not required medication.  The
possible explanations include incomplete removal of both adrenals (getting
the entire right adrenal gland is difficult when it has wrapped around the
vena cava) or production of adrenal hormones in other tissues (not known
where).
 
Dr. Weiss
301-299-4142
[Posted in FML issue 1288]