A diagnosis of insulinoma does not preclude other diseases.  Unfortunately,
adrenal disease, which is characterized by the type of hair loss you
describe, often developes before, after or in conjunction with insulinoma.
There is some good news.  If your ferret has good weight and is deemed
strong enough for surgery.  the adrenal tumor can be removed and at the
same time, the surgeon can remove nodules from the surface of the pancreas.
These "bumps" are pancreatic tumors and their removal, while it will not
cure the disease, may give your ferret additional quality time.  Removing
the adrenal tumor often results in regrowth of haircoat.
 
When we do adrenal tumor surgery, we always look at all the organs,
including the pancreas.  On occasion, we find pancreatic cancer as well as
an adrenal tumor (most adrenal tumors ARE NOT malignant).  We treat both
diseases at the same time, removing the adrenal tumor and scraping the
pancreas.  This has resulted in an extended and happy life for the ferret
patient.  The loss of one adrenal gland does not require the use of
Prednisone after surgery, but if pancreatic cancer is present, the ferret
is put on lifelong treatment of Prednisone.
 
Wishing you and your ferret all the best,
Ferret Rescue of the Western States, Colorado Springs
[Posted in FML issue 2583]