My ferret Linus sheds the hair on his tail every fall, drags it around
half-empty and looking more like a rat tail, 'til about November-ish and
then grows a beautiful full coat, on the tail, primarily (especially
nowadays, he's over 7).  Mostly yellow.  Very lovely.  He's done this for
as long as I can remember, and continues to do so.  3 1/2 years ago he
complimented this behavior with constant peeing.  Ah, adrenal disease.
Since then though there's been no problem, and the vet got a look at his
adrenal recently and said it looked just fine.  So, I guess for him hair
loss is just a normal seasonal thing.  Nowadays his tail is the only
place he grows this extra hair.  Must be to him like some guys' facial
hair is to them.  Maybe he grooms his tail at night when no one can see?
 
Minta & Linus
[Posted in FML issue 4049]