I took Molly into a Vet. in Guelph (at OVC) yesterday to get a fourth
opinion on her hair loss/swollen vulva.  Just to update--she lost her
underfur up both sides last fall for a couple of months.  She lost a lot of
fur on her tail and on her bum this past January and it stayed gone for 5
months.  Both times that she lost her fur where very stressful times
(moving, new ferret, Mommy's accident, etc.).  She stopped eating well the
first time and had to be feed Ensure with a feeding syringe.  This last time
she continued to eat fine.  In the past couple of weeks she has started to
(rapidly) grow her hair back.  Her vulva was only very slightly swollen
before, but now it is more swollen.  She is a very happy, loving, playful
ferret.  She eats and drinks fine.  She has gained 37 grams in just as short
period of time...bringing her up to her current weight of 637 grams.
 
Our first Vet.  felt it was just stress.  Our second Vet.  thought it could
be adrenal, but she recommended i see Vet.  #4 for a diagnosis and surgery,
if necessary.  Vet.  #3 felt it was probably not adrenal since the hair loss
wasn't bad and the vulva wasn't terribly swollen.  Vet #4 (who i've just
been able to go to--because i moved out here) agrees with Vet#3 in that her
symptoms aren't serious.  But, really, her vulva is _noticeably_ bigger than
that of our other 3 girls...and her bum was _completely_ bald.
 
The Vet. i went to yesterday has come highly recommended.
 
He said that an Ultrasound probably would not be helpful, but he did want a
blood sample.  Since i've read the FAQ, i'm not sure why, but i let him
since i felt it wouldn't be a bad idea to have it done anyway (Molly is 3
now).  He said that he wouldn't recommend surgery right now, but he may want
to put her on medication.
 
I'm not sure about this one.  He said that he would do it to treat her,
probable, increased Estrogen levels.  He mentioned the medicine, but i
forget the name--it wasn't Lysodren.
 
Doc's? Does this sound right?
 
I don't want to seem like i don't care about her (which is the antithesis of
the truth!!!) by refusing the medication...but the FAQ does not say anything
about this sort of treatment...unless i've missed something.
 
And...should we be waiting for symptoms to get worse? Mom's instinct tells
me it _is_ Adrenal (why else would she keep going bald, and why else would
her vulva be, about, 3 times the size of the others'?). I don't _want_ her
to have surgery, but i want to do what is _best_ for her.
 
None of the Vet's have said we should be operating, though.
 
I've pestered about Molly before, but advice on this medicine-thing, and
whether waiting will be harmful, would be greatly appreciated.
 
Thanks!
 
--Norma-ann (who is starting to feel like an over-protective Mom/Lune)
  President of SOFA
  and Mom to Molly, Leo & Maggie
  Step-Mom to Oedie and Beckett!
 
p.s. They took the blood from her arm...is that right? They didn't do a very
good job, either. Both arms were shaved and one was bloody.
 
p.s. I meant to put this in my post, but forgot: the intern that was with
him started telling me that ferrets are even %illegal% in some areas, like
California.  I said, "Yes, i know".  He said, "They are illegal because they
attack babies".  I BURST out laughing!  Then he looked at me funny and said,
"Ya, I think it has something to do with the smell of the baby that makes
the ferret attack".  Oh my gawd...he was serious.
 
He must have thought i was pretty sick to find that funny...but, i thought
he was kidding.
 
bye.
[Posted in FML issue 1613]