I don't have to be a vet to diagnosis this one. It's definitely adrenal gland tumors. Schedule an ultrasound so the vet can see if there's going to be any complications (NOT just to look for an adrenal tumor, since they DON'T always show up on an ultrasound.) and then schedule the surgery for as soon as possible. Well heck... I'll just copy to you parts of the same email I just sent to someone else: ... Other symptoms of this include bilateral (similar on both sides of the spinal column) hair loss or, just thinning hair, at base of tail, between shoulder blades, backs of ears, back of head, tops of toes, or tail, an increase of agressive behavior, a musky smell around neck (different from "sleepy ferret" smell). Some ferrets show NONE of these symptoms and still have adrenal gland tumors. Hair growing back does NOT mean the tumor is not there, and it doesn't always fall out enough to make a bald spot. It's very common for it to grow back, only to fall out again, sometimes in a different area! Adrenal gland tumors are so common (85% of all ferrets will eventually have it) that we don't waste money on testing. At the very first symptoms we just schedule the surgery. We have NEVER NOT found an adrenal tumor. We've done over 30 adrenal surgeries in the past 2 years. The first symptom is usually hair thinning (we NEVER wait for bald spots!), increased aggression is the second most common. If it IS an enlarged prostate, chances are the adrenal tumor is well advanced REGARDLESS of whether you've seen any other symptoms. With the kidneys also involved, I'd say that there's a 99.9% chance that you're dealing with adrenal gland tumors that have been there for a year or more. (That's just speaking from experience with the ferrets that come through our shelter.) In cases where adrenal tumors have been present for this length of time, it is CRITICAL that the ferret receive hormonal supplements of Florinef after surgery. Dr. Leo Gates (210-658-6326, have your vet call it he is unfamiliar with this) prescribes it for a 5 week (minimum) period after surgery to prevent the sudden withdrawal of the tumors's hormone output from being fatal... it is a VERY common cause of post adrenal surgery death in ferrets with advanced adrenal disease so PLEASE talk to your vet about this. Dr. Gates uses the Florinef protocol for ALL adrenal surgeries, since it is so very easy for the disease to have been present for a long time without being diagnosed. I do NOT recommend the Tennesse Panel for adrenal tumor testing. If there's enough cause for the Tennessee Panel test, spend the money on surgery instead. By the time the prostate and kidneys are involved, time is getting critical. YOU DON'T HAVE MONTHS TO WAIT. An ultrasound can sometimes show the tumor and the vet can see if there will be any additional complications. But adrenal tumors DON'T always show on ultrasound. Lupron can be used to help reduce the prostate and is the choice for ferrets that are not good candidates for surgery. I currently have one 3 1/2 yr. old male in the shelter, Sneakers, that is getting Lupron in hopes of reducing the prostate to a point that surgery to remove the adrenal tumors is less risky. If the Lupron does NOT reduce his prostate, Sneakers is doomed to a life of chronic bladder/kidney infections that will eventually kill him within a year or two. Surgery is ALWAYS the first choice with ferrets that are, or with treatment can become, good surgical candidates. Lupron does NOT make an adrenal tumor go away, it only treats the symptoms. As the tumor continues to grow, it presses on the bladder, kidneys, and urinary tract causing reduced urine flow, allowing urine to "pool" in contricted passages where bacteria can grow until it blocks the flow of urine, backing the bacteria up to the bladder & kidneys, causing kidney failure and death. PLEASE feel free to print this and take it to your vet for discussion. At the web site listed below are links to excellent, professional medical resources for you and your vet. I highly recommend the web site of Dr. Bruce Williams, who is one of the world's leaders in ongoing research of ferret medicine... Now, back to your new guy, specifically: The "rank" smell you've noticed is the "whole male" smell; what an un-neutered male smells like due to the hormone output of the enlarged adrenal glands (the tumor makes the gland grow, so it puts out more hormones than the normal small gland which is about the size of a pin head.) The wirey feel of his fur is also an adrenal symptom as is the pear-shape, or pot-belly. For immediate odor relief, try the spray on coat conditioner/deodorizer stuff. It is safe to use several times a day. It does curb the smell but it won't help the texture of his coat. Only surgery and a coat change or two will fix that and restore it's normal softness. Change his bedding daily. Use a tightly sealing "diaper pail" for dirty bedding to keep odors in check until you have a wash load. I'm going to be away from the computer for a couple of weeks, so if you have any questions, please send short, text only emails to my text pager at [log in to unmask] Debi Christy Ferrets First Foster Home Practical & easy training, care, & maintenance articles available at http://www.geocities.com/ferretsfirst/ [Posted in FML issue 3858]