http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/message/79 BEGIN QUOTE Hi everybody, Seems there has been some interesting comments about adrenal gland disease and how to treat adrenal gland disease. So lets clear up some of the terminology and confusion. Ferrets develop hyperadrenocorticism (ie adrenal gland disease), and their adrenal glands overproduce the sex hormones and the adrenal androgens (DHEA, ANDRO, PROGESTERONE, AND ESTROGEN). Dogs and people develop hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing's disease), and their adrenal glands overproduce cortisol. Cushings is the correct term for cortisol overproduction, and it is a good term for dogs and people. Because ferrets rarely overproduce cortisol, Cushings is not an accurate term for ferrets. Likewise since ferrets do not overproduce cortisol, some of the drugs used for dogs do not work well for ferrets. Vetoryl (trilostane) is a good drug to use for dogs, but it may not be a good drug for ferrets. Vetoryl will increase the amount of progesterone produced. Progesterone is one of the hormones that ferrets with adrenal gland disease can over produce (see above). Thus Vetoryl is not the best option for ferrets. Lupron depot (also called Lueprorelin in Europe) (Leuprolide acetate) is a VERY SAFE product. I have been using it for more than 8.5 years now. It does not cause any liver damage or have any side effects on the liver in ferrets! It works by stopping the stimulation (LH) to the adrenal glands. Then the adrenal glands stop over producing the sex hormones and adrenal androgens. If Lupron is used with cases of hyperplasia and adenomas, it may shrink the size of the adrenal glands. It may also help keep carcinomas from getting bigger. Suprelorin implants (deslorelin acetate) is another product that stops the stimulation (LH) to the adrenal glands and then the adrenal glands stop over producing the sex hormones and adrenal androgens. It is not yet available here in the US, but it is available in Australia, New Zealand and a few other countries. The 4.7 mg implant is the recommend dose Melatonin (implants or orally) is another option. Melatonin should also lower the LH level and the sex hormone and androgen levels. The big question with melatonin is whether the ferret will become refractory to it when used over a long time. Melatonin should also help prevent the adrenal gland from becoming larger as was shown in the U of Wisconsin oral melatonin study. Yes, Lupron and melatonin can be used together! In my opinion using melatonin and Lupron together gives you the best of both worlds and is the best option for medical management of adrenal gland disease in ferrets. Hope that helps, Jerry Murray, DVM END QUOTE Sukie (not a vet) Reminder: THE FERRET HEALTH LIST IS MOVING. To join, click on the joining link at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth and then follow the directions. OR just send a blank mail to the automated joining address: [log in to unmask] and then follow the directions. Recommended ferret health links: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/ferrethealth/ http://ferrethealth.org/archive/ http://www.afip.org/ferrets/index.html http://www.miamiferret.org/fhc/ http://www.ferretcongress.org/ [Posted in FML 5425]