Actually, I also read a similar comment in a widely-read book on ferret
care last night, so I thought I'd clear up a common misconception about
examining the prostate of the ferret.
 
In the ferret, the prostate lives on the floor of the pelvic canal, is
usually surrounded by the bony cage of the pelvis.  This means that in
the vast majority of cases, except in extreme enlargements or abscesses,
the prostate is generally non-palpable.
 
In humans and in dogs, the prostate is easily checked by digital rectal
palpation (and everyone thought a doctor's life was glamorous).  However,
in ferrets, the anus is far too small to allow such direct examination.
 
So, while it is still important that your vet feel the caudal abdomen for
prostatic enlargement in male ferrets with adrenal disease as part of the
routine exam, a negative finding does not rule out the possibility of
prostatic disease.
 
The most effective pre-surgical test for prostatic disease in ferrets is
ultrasound, which allows good visualization of the enlarged prostate -
normal prostates will probably not be picked up.  While I am not a fan of
routine ultrasound in the case of adrenal disease, this is an important
exception, and any male ferret with urinary difficulty should be scheduled
for an ultrasound with haste.
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
 
 ---
 
I'll have to second Dr Williams' post.  Prostate problems are common in
male ferrets with adrenal gland disease!  If your male is on a good food
then he should not be having crystals or stones.  If he is also showing
adrenal gland signs (thin haircoat, hair that epilates easy, increased
musky odor, itchy skin, orange tinge to the skin in the shoulder blades
area, return of sexual behavior, aggressive behavior) then it is time to
treat him for the adrenal gland disease (surgery if he is healthy, Lupron
and Propecia if he is unhealthy).  A PU surgery will NOT help with a
prostate problem!
 
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM
 
The most common cause of dysuria in male ferrets is prostatic disease as
a result of adrenal disease.  Our belief for many years that crystals in
the urine was causing these animals not to be able to urinate was simply
incorrect.  Crystalluria (sandy crystals and plugs in the urine) do
occasionally happen, but nowhere as commonly as adrenal disease will
cause this problem.
 
With adrenal disease, the estrogens result in the prostate swelling and
occluding the urethra as it passes through.  These animals cannot
voluntarily urinate, but the bladder is easily expressed.
 
Differentiation of the two syndromes can be accomplished by one or more of
the following tests:
 
1) Evacuating the bladder.  If the ferret is having trouble urinating, but
you express the bladder by hand and urine comes out easily, then it is
likely the prostate.  If the urine does not come out, or only dribbles
out, urinary stones are a more likely cause.
 
2) Look for other symptoms of adrenal disease - hair loss, behavioral
changes such as marking or aggression.  If it is still in doubt, the blood
tests available at the University of Tenn.  for adrenal disease will help.
 
3) Do a urinalysis, to include a sediment exam.  While both causes will
result in WBC's in the urine, there are usually far more in prostatic
disease, as there is often suppurative inflammation coming out of the
bladder.  The sediment in prostatic disease will have numerous white blood
cells, and flakes of keratin.  In urinary stones, you will see many urine.
The pH of urine in crystalluria is usually more alkaline.
 
It is usually best to look at several of these parameters before a
decision to do surgery is made.  While a perineal urethrostomy will not
hurt a ferret with prostatic disease, it is not helpful.  However, a PU
is always a good idea in ferrets with recurrent urinary crystals.
 
With kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, DVM
[Posted in FML issue 3652]