Jan,
we have two ferrets, ona an albino who started losing her tail hair about a
year ago.  Our vet decided not to rush into surgery (for an adrenal tumor)
so she prescribed an germicidal shampoo for blackheads.  It worked!  Our vet
also said another reason ferrets lose their tail hair besides adrenal
disease has something to do with the exposure to light in the Pacific
Northwest.  we live in Idaho, so that was also a possibility.
 
However, Sweetheart has again begun losing tail hair - this time the hair
loss is moving up her body, so we're back to considering adrenal surgery.
 
Just remeber that there are other reasons for loss of hair besides cancer.
 
Janice
[Posted in FML issue 2372]