Hi, Anne, Dr. Bruce Williams just called with some updated information
(since that past FHL post of his) on Lupus and Pemphigus for you.
 
Basically, the two are VERY hard to tell apart so your ferret COULD
have either one.
 
The way to tell the two apart is to get an unbroken blister for histology
work.  That is because different layers of the skin are involved.  Both
are blistering disorders.
 
There are two forms of Lupus in mammals: Systemic Lupus which also
involves the organs, and Discoid Lupus which involves the skin and can
involve the bridge of the nose.
 
Treatment is HIGH DOSE STEROIDS, start at a minimum of an mg for each
pound of weight if Prednisolone is being used.  In the ones that does
not work for immune suppressent medications are used.
 
Both of these are very rare autoimmune disorders in ferrets.
[Posted in FML issue 4803]