Anthony and Binky,
 
Cushings disease is the name for a disease we see in dogs that have a tumor
of the pituitary or adrenal gland.  In ferrets it is very common to have a
tumor of the adrenal gland, but it causes different symptoms and is not
diagnosed with the same test as dogs with Cushings Disease.  This is an
important distinction because it is treated differently then the disease that
dogs get.  By far the most common symptom of ferrets with an adrenal tumor
(the name for this condition is Adrenal Associated Endocrinopathy or AAE) is
hair loss. This hair loss can be anywhere but is most connonly on the tail,
above the base of the tail on the back, over the shoulder blades and on the
tops of the rear feet.  Other symptoms of adrenal tumors in ferrets include
vulva swelling in a spayed  female, aggressive behavior or return to mating
behavior in neutered males, thinning of the skin and in some cases abdominal
distention.
The tumor is usually on the left adrenal (the easiest to remove), but can be
on the right side or on both adrenals.  The treatment is surgical removal of
the affected adrenal.  The adrenal that does not have a tumor should be
atrophied (smaller then normal).  If neither adrenal is small then both
adrenals usually have tumors. In this case we remove the left adrenal and
half of the right adrenal.  These ferrets usually do great but may need a low
dose of prednisone post op.
It is important to have a surgeon who is experenced in ferret surgery for
several reasons.  This is a delicate procedure: the adrenals lie in close
proximity to the vena cava (one of the largest vessels in the body), these
tumors can attach to the vessle and even grow under it, and if it tears the
ferret will not survive.  In experienced hands this surgery has a very high
success rate.  Also during surgery the pancreas should always be inspected
for tumors which are fairly common.  Again the treatment for this condition
is also removal of the tumors which should be done at the same time as the
adrenal surgery.
In my opinion it is not necessary to do a sonogram before surgery.  It can be
tough to see the adrenal tumors even when they are present, and 99% of
ferrets with the symptoms have  the tumor.  Also the sonogram is more
expensive then the surgery!
There is also a new accurate blood test for adrenal tumors offered at the Vet
School in Tennessee (but it also is about as much as surgery).
 
If you have other questions feelfree to ask.
Dr Weiss
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(301)299-4142
[Posted in FML issue 1287]