In case the dysuria post also appears here on the FML these have the information which can help you and your vet: http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/ferrethealth/prostate.txt (Most urinary blockage problems in ferrets trace back to adrenal problems.) http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=11&cat=1296&articleid=1491 (Possible dietary causes of crystals in urine and what to do about those.) http://www.petcarevabeach.com/pen1.html (A vet's How-to on rerouting a ferret who is blocking from stones.) Medications are not curative for adrenal disease, though there may be some cases of neoplasia in which they may shrink the growths. For a healthy 3 year old you want to go with the surgical approach, though your vet will want to read up the operation and how to do anesthesia safely for ferrets beforehand. I recommend the following for you and your vet: the above post in smartgroups, the critical refs http://www.ferretcongress.org, http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org, and ESPECIALLY the following two: http://www.westendanimal.com/ for Dr. Kemmerer's video which teaches so much and which I think includes adrenal ops (We are on an austerity budget so I have to wait to order myself a copy) and Dr. Karen Purcell's vet text which has step by step operation info: _Essentials of Ferrets_ ISBN 0-941451-73-9, AAHA Press 1-800-252-2242, 12575 W Bayaud Ave, Lakewood, CO 80228 You can medicate in the meantime with Lupron or with Lupron and melatonin (Melatonin alone is not shown to provide the possible safety margin seen with Lupron.) Your vet can find this in small enough amounts by using a number of the compounding pharmacies which ship listed in http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/ferrethealth/ReferenceShelf/comp_pharm.html Alternatively you can travel to a vet who is listed as a ferret vet in one of thse listings (all differ): http://www.smartgroups.com/vault/ferrethealth/ReferenceShelf/FerretVets.htm http://fhl.sonic-weasel.org/vets/ Search by zip code, read FAQ first. http://www.quincyweb.net/quincy/vet.html http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/vets.htm http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-vets.html http://www.geocities.com/houseferrets13uk/Vets.html UK vets http://www.ferrets.org/Veterinarian_Listings.htm British Columbia vets http://www.supportourshelters.org http://www.ferretsanctuary.com/vets.shtml http://www.angelfire.com/ga2/ferretlady/ferretdocs.html [Posted in FML issue 4243]
