>From:    "Cindy C. Sooy" <[log in to unmask]>
>A friend of mine has a 2-3 y.o. neutered male ferret.  He has been
>passing blood in his urine for the last few weeks.  The vet has ruled
>out trama, mass, stones or a blockage... He is playful and eating normally.
>His CBC came back normal.  X-rays are normal.  Any ideas??  She and her vet
>are stumped.
 
Dear Cindy.
 
Any sign of adrenal disease?  A very commen symptom in males who have
adrenal disease is straining with urination, often accompanied by increased
aggression, some of it sexual in nature.  The enlarged prostate, cysts,
etc., can cause a lot of irritation.  If there are signs of adrenal disease,
he should be treated for adrenal problems.  The danger is he'll block up and
that can be devestating.
 
The adrenal problem may well not show up in an x-ray, and is often missed in
ultrasound as well.  Routine blood work, barring other problems, will
gnerally be normal though adrenal disease is present.
 
I'll be happy to send more info - I run a Ferret Adrenal/Insulinoma Mailing
Llist.
 
Also, sometimes hair loss doesn't occur with adrenal disease being
present... it really does happen!
 
Can the vet feel anything in the adrenal area.  Sometimes, more often not
though, an enlargement can be felt.
 
Please let me now how the little fuzzy is doing.
 
Lynn Mc.
[Posted in FML issue 2207]