Hi All.  First let me say, yes this girl will be seeing the vet next week,
I was just curious if anyone had some thoughts, ideas or information on
what to expect for me.  As some of you know, I have only been officially a
shelter for just about two years in a *new* ferret area and have been
fairly fortunate in our rescues.  This is my first experience with a case
this severe so I am ready to learn.
 
"Esmerelda" was turned in late last week by a kind soul who found her
digging in her garbage looking for food, our assumption is she was
abandoned.  She is about 6-7 years old.  She is actually in very decent
health, has a good weight and is extremely active and alert, very friendly,
loving and just as sweet as can be.  She is also the saddest looking thing
I have ever seen.  She has a tiny bit of fuzz on her back paws, a little
patchy fuzz on her front legs up to the *knees* and some very thin, sparse
fur on her head, other than that she is totally, completely, slick bald..
not a hair anywhere else.  She also has a swollen vulva, but with the
baldness we can see the scar that tells us she is spayed.  Didn't take much
brain power to decide she has an advanced, untreated case of Adrenal Gland
Disease.
 
Considering her age and the advanced stage of the disease, what are the
options I am likely looking at?  Is one this age a canidate for surgery?
What about medications?  What kind of chances would she have of keeping her
quality of life??  Right now she is so happy and active, is that unusual
for one at this stage of the disease?
 
Also, regarding food... should she be on a extra high protein diet to help
fight illness or a lower protein diet since she is older?  Will skin and
coat supplements do any good whatsoever or will only treatment alone do
that?  (I am not suggestion she will not get treatment, I mean supplements
in addition to)  By the way, she has no markings or tattoos of any type so
we are clueless as to her origions.
 
I would appreciate any thoughts, comments, information or suggestions to
help us make the right choices for her.
 
Thanks
Susan
Ferrets Unlimited Rescue of Tulsa
[Posted in FML issue 2952]