Dear Julie:
 
>I am curious if I should worry about post-steroidal rebound, and if so,
>are the symptoms the same/similar in ferrets as they are in humans.  I
>suppose the only real symptom that would be easily detectable in a ferret
>would be extended lethargy, and a failure to thrive manifestation....
 
You're absolutely right - lethargy is the major symptom of an
adrenal-insufficient ferret, and it can be difficult to determine whether
it is du to the recent surgery or to a lack of mineralocorticoid hormones.
However, we see it far less in ferrets than in humans, and probably in less
than 50% of ferrets.  We rarely do accurate bilateral adrenalectomies in
ferrets due to the positioning of the adrenal glands - so we don't see
Addison's disease in all of the cases.  If you think that you are dealing
with adrenal insufficiency, then let's get a blood test to check the
levels of electrolytes, which become deranged in the absence of
mineralocorticoids.  It is often an instinctive thing on the part of the
owner, who knows that the ferret isn't making good progress after surgery.
 
with kindest regards,
Bruce Williams, dVM
[Posted in FML issue 3329]