Here is my second postion already. . . little sdid I know when I signed up
for FML that I would be needing some expert fuzzy health advise.
 
My vet has requested I seek some input.
 
My 4 year old, neutered male is losing his hair .  He has never had a
"really nice coat" since he had surgery at the age of nine months for a
stuck earplug in his bowel.  In May we had a figure eight harness on all
three ferrets for a short time, until it wore some hair off - and now it is
four months later - and Kodiak still has not regrown his hair ( and the
other two females have).  It is like he is slowly losing his undercoat, and
seems unable to regrow the hair once it has been worn off.  His belly near
his back legs has a completely bare strip.  The hair loss is not complete or
symetrical - he just looks sort of mangy !!  Skin scrapings are neagative.
... and my vet is not sure if this is a classic presentation of adrenal
problems and to do surgery.  He felt that the hair loss in adrenal problems
should start at the tail, and move forward with complete hair loss , in a
symmetrical pattern.  I have given him the Ferret Central FAQs.  He just
does not want to jump into surgery if he is not certain that it is the
problem.
 
Behavoiur wise, he is fine - lots of energy, eats well.  He does scratch a
bit - but we have also just moved to a desert cliamte fram a rain forest -
and we are all dealing with dry skin.
 
So........... My vet (who is a young exotics specialist - but has not yeat
seen a lot of ferrets) is calling expert exotics vets in Calgary and at the
VET university in Saskatoon (we live in BC) .
 
PLEASE . . . any vets - please send me your comments so I can help my vet
Please any owners - - send me your thoughts as well.
 
Thanks
 
Carrie and Steven
Nunuq, Kodiak and Medeek
[Posted in FML issue 1692]