Hi all!
In response to Debbie Riccio's statement that her kits still have maternal
antibody at 6 weeks of age because they are allowed to ween when the jill is
ready... I'm not sure about ferrets, but I believe most animals lose the
ability to absorb immunoglobulins (maternal antibody) shortly after birth.
I know that large animals (horses and cattle) can only have good passive
transfer of maternal antibody within the first day of life -- mostly within
the first six hours.  Again, I'm not sure what the time period is for
carnivores.  Anyhow, I believe that carnivores in general receive some
immunity prior to birth and the colostrum adds to it.  Anybody out there
know?
 
Somebody asked way back when about an enlarged adrenal gland that was taken
out of their ferret and asked why the histology came back normal.
Hyperplasia refers to any tissue that is increased in size, but is normal
structurally.  A hyperplastic adrenal gland causes problems sometimes by
producing too much hormone (it has more secretory tissue).  Neoplasia
(cancer) is the unregulated division of cells (something goes haywire and
the cells decide to have a party with unregulated mitosis -- they don't know
when to stop).  A neoplastic adrenal gland would have lost its normal
architecture and cellular structure.
 
Hope this helps.
 
About Pugsley:
We have a blood donor ferret at our vet school (WSU), Pugsley.  He's a big
sable (I mean HUGE -- well maybe not that big, but compared to my two little
girls he is).  He likes to get into trouble and has an iron grip, especially
on leather, that can only be released by bribery with a marshmallow.  He
lives at the school in the exotics ward with lots of vet students to keep
him entertained.  He also seems to like the raptors...but that's a different
story.
 
                                Lisa and Noah
                                Daisy -- the spastic one
                                Squirt -- zzzzzzzzzzz....
[Posted in FML issue 1615]