The following is a note to me from a friend regarding her ferret Smokey.
His history is outlined in the rest of her email.  She told me that she did
email Dr. Williams, but has not gotten a reply as yet.  Any help would be
appreciated.  I ferret sat Smokey a couple of weeks ago and it's obvious
he's having a really hard time, and it's just getting worse.  Dr. Hudson,
Renee's regular vet (and mine) is a very very knowledgeable ferret vet, and
a very good surgeon.  He has been ligating right adrenals for some time
now, and I trust him implicitly.  That said, if anyone has had experience
with problems like Smokey's we would appreciate some input.  I have
permission to post Renee's email: [log in to unmask] please reply to her.
 
Thanks, Robynn McCarthy
 
Renee Downs wrote:
 
I am just going to send this response to everyone I would email, so I
only have to say it once. Thanks for understanding.
 
Actually, I just want Smokey to be comfortable and happy.  He seems to be
feeling good, but he still has all the adrenal symptoms.  There is very
little, poor hair regrowth & his skin is itchy.  He is always trying to
mark and mount everything.  He eats and drinks fine, has no muscle atrophy
and continuously plays and dooks - he is ALWAYS talking now.  The amount of
sleep has not increased, he is still my most curious ferret and he loves to
go outside and explore.
 
The total picture.  When I got Smokey as a kit (1995), his history was that
he had been purchased and returned due to aggressive sex behavior and very
strong odor.  (This led me to believe he might not have been completely
neutered.) This subsided within 6 months.
 
At the age of 10 months (1996), he lost hair between the shoulder blades.
This could not be attributed to a specific cause.  Repeat a year later.  In
1998 it happened again, but still the flea issue and then the mysterious
illness caused us to delay diagnosis until the other issues were resolved.
 
Dec.  '98 was the first adrenalectomy.  All good; no complications; benign.
However, no hair regrowth and the aggressiveness began.  Since Giggles
joined us in Jan., after a move, we questioned stress, etc.  but in May we
did the second adrenal gland.  Cancer, margins clear, lymph nodes negative.
 
No change in behavior.  So, we did a urinalysis and testosterone level.  It
showed as < 4 (negative).  Last Friday I had a urinalysis done again at Dr.
Hudson's request.  This was a followup to one done in his office a week or
so before.  They found a "significant" amount of blood in his urine and
started him on Baytril.
 
Yesterday we saw Dr. Hudson again and he said there is still blood in
the urine. We have discussed all sorts of possibilities, which include:
 
1. Maybe he missed some part of the adrenal gland and there is still
   some activity. This would be the easiest option.
2. Maybe the adrenal cancer metastasized and we don't know where it is
   Dr. H said the most likely spot would be to the liver.  Everyone says
   that this is highly unlikely based on the timeline, the care and the
   clear margins in Dec.
3. Unrelated, there may be some testicular tissue that for some reason
   did not register on the test. Can the meds he is taking affect the
   results?
4. The blood in the urine can be a result of cystitis (behavior related),
   bladder or kidney problems or prostate troubles.  It is not corrected
   with Baytril, although the urine is not as dark or cloudy to the naked
   eye, so something needs to be done.
 
The exploratory on Thursday he has offered at no charge.  If there is
another unrelated problem, he will deal with that.  If the problem is
related to the adrenal, he will correct what he can.  If it turns out that
Smokey has no APPARENT thing to be corrected, we might have to assume that
it is a metastasis - or other problem - and treat him symptomatically.
 
I have received many emails from people suggesting possible things to
consider.  The bottom line on surgery is, if I wait and it is something
that progresses, we have lost time.  If I do it now, we can rule out what
it is not and narrow down treatment options.  I want what is best for
Smokey.  If it turns out this is a terminal problem, I can at least make
sure that however long he has, he is asymptomatic and comfortable.  IF
that is the case, I have done all I can do and he will not be lost due to
neglect, but nature.  I don't like to consider that, but it is a reality.
Right now, though, he seems to be fine, just horny!
 
So, if you have any more suggestions, I'm all ears.  Thanks for listening.
AND, thank you for all the input!  Hope everyone else is doing okay!
 
Renee :)
[Posted in FML issue 2755]