Well, we have one of the more lavish homes possible for ferrets have one
now who is our first with an early adrenal (at 3 and 1/2).  She had her
blood drawn today (poor Joe, trying to get blood from a little one with
very thick skin and rubbery shifting veins) which she isn't happy about.
This is not a deprived creature -- depraved, yes, but not deprived... :-)
Unlike many of our four-footed family members she came here young from
decent conditions, not one of our previously-battered souls.  Over the 18
years or so I think (Didn't run numbers this time so counting on memory.)
that we run maybe 30% of the ferrets getting adrenal growths at some point
and till now all were at old ages.
 
Shirley, Australia might well have a UNIQUE opportunity for a veterinary
epidemiologist to study this since adrenal cases have just begun to appear
and are appearing in only one pocket form what you have said.  It could
still be a silent viral cause -- one which simply came in within or on
another species (like a human or perhaps another member of Carnivora).
Of course, it might not be.  That's where the tracing of any spread comes
in; it would a marvelous way to see if the viral direction makes sense to
investigate.  Finding viral precursors is often very long, laborious, and
expensive so knowing if the direction makes sense would be a really, really
essential factor in convincing anyone to even investigate it.  Australia
looks like it would possible a GREAT place for the numbers to be gotten to
see if such studies would make sense; the situation in Australia right now
could be a gift for ALL ferrets IF this opportunity isn't wasted.  Please,
ask your vet about who might want to do such a long-term follow-up to see
if any patterns that could be informative emerge.
 
Amy, it may be that in a year or three there might be something which can
be done for megaesophagus.  There is some research going on, I believe at
the AMC, using stints of a new special type to treat megaesophagus in dogs
on an experimental basis.  Perhaps it will pan out, and then be revised
for use in ferrets later.
 
Among the things in the current AFR is a short piece on the AFA planning to
work up breeders guidelines.  I REALLY hope that will include health and
longevity information provided for those getting a kit on the kits 'line
going back at least 2 generations, and including health histories for
parents' and grandparents' sibs when possible, too.
[Posted in FML issue 3100]