Dixon - the signs that you describe as far as hair and weight loss are
consistent with adrenal disease, however, the signs of nervousness are not.
Adrenal disesae in the ferret is the result of excessive secretions of estrogen,
not corticosteroids, so hyperpexcitablility has neither been seen nor is to be
expected.  Itching has been suspected to be related to this syndrome, but it has
never been proven, so the itching may be a clue to Scooter's continued problem.
 
Some ferrets, however, do respond with behavioral changes following the
stresses of intensive medical and surgical care.  Generally, this type of
behavior is cure with time and care, but sedatives do not fix the problem -
they only give you a dopey ferret.
 
        I wish I could be of more help.
 
        Bruce Williams
        [log in to unmask]
______________________________ Reply Separator _____________________________
 Subject: Adrenal Disease and hyper nervousness
 Author:  "Dixon H. Harris" <[log in to unmask]> at INTERNET
 Date:       11/23/94 4:23 PM
 
 Date:    Wed, 23 Nov 94 16:23 EST
 From:    "Dixon H. Harris" <[log in to unmask]>
 To: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
 Cc: Bruce Williams DVM <[log in to unmask]>
 Subject: Adrenal Disease and hyper nervousness
 Message-Id: <[log in to unmask]>
 
 I have an older albino male who had an adrenal gland excised last
 March.  In July "Scooter" showed distinct  symptoms that he had a
 tumor on both glands.( Weakness, hairloss, etc. The Doc put him on
 a regimin of lysodrin to counteract the overproduction of
 glandular secretions, and steroids to get his weight back.) He is
 off both now. His weight is recovered but his life is much
 diminished and cute personality changed by extreme nervousness.
 
 Scooter shakes and quivers constantly, exhibits fits of nervous
 scratching almost like a nervous tic, and is extremely sensitive
 to sudden noise. He hates to be picked up now.
 
 The Doc here is a Dallas suburb who has a pretty extensive ferret
 practice, told me he has seen many such cases, The loss of almost
 all body hair is not uncommon. But he has never seen such
 nervousness in other cases. He put Scooter on sedatives; first
 phenobarbitol, It worked minimally. Now we just started Diazipam
 ( veterinary Valium).
 
 I'm sending this to the FML at large and a copy to Dr Williams.
 Anybody have any ideas what we should do or where we should go
 from here to get our old Scooter back?
 
 
[Posted in FML issue 1023]