To Jason and Fosgate:
 
>Fosgate is losing his hair.  Our vet thinks it's from the slightly new
>shampoo, but we've used it before and it didn't do it.  (Pro Pet Products
>Salon Formula)  His skin also seems a little dry and scaly, but not bad.
>We've found a few fleas on him and took care of it with sevin dust.
>We're feeding Totally Ferret (of course) and aren't doing anything else
>different.
 
        Okay, now we need to know where the hair loss is.  There are several
reasons for hair loss, including the seasonal shedding at this time of the year.
 I agree with you - shampoos shouldn't cause hair loss.  Hair loss from adrenal
disease starts over the tail and spreads upward to encompass the flanks and
abdomen.  That is probably the most common  cause of hair loss in the ferret.
Skin tumors often cause discrete areas of hair loss. But I can better discuss
the problem if you can give me some idea of where the hair is missing from.
 
>Also, anyone have any idea why fleas don't like Rockford?  We've NEVER
>found a flea on her (and Allison is meticulous when she sees a flea), but
>Fosgate gets them every now and then.
 
        We have the same situation at our house.  We only find fleas on a couple
of the ferrets, and it's always the same ones.  Not sure why, though...
 
       Bruce Williams, DVM                 Department of Veterinary Pathology
       [log in to unmask]         Armed Forces Institute of Pathology
       (202) 782-2600/2602                 Washington, D.C.  20306-6000
[Posted in FML issue 1029]