To Wendy Hudson and Silk:
 
        Whether or not to have Silk operated on has to be discussed between
     you and your vet.  Unless the adrenal is removed, he hair will not
     return.  But first you and your vet have to establish whether Silk is
     a good surgical candidate.  At  7.5 years, there is a higher chance
     that Silk will have other problems, such as mild heart disease or
     perhaps even an insulinoma.
 
        If Silk is a healthy 7.5 year old, the surgery poses little more
     risk than when she was 4 years old.  But before we proceed, I would
     recommend a blood screen and a chest X-ray.
 
        I'm a big fan of surgery for adrenal disease, as any of the people
     who read regularly will tell you.  There is currently no consistently
     effective medical treatment for this condiditon in ferrets.  But at
     7.5 years, the big question is whether Silk can take the surgery or
     not.
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                    Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 1064]