To Wendy Hudson and Silk: Whether or not to have Silk operated on has to be discussed between you and your vet. Unless the adrenal is removed, he hair will not return. But first you and your vet have to establish whether Silk is a good surgical candidate. At 7.5 years, there is a higher chance that Silk will have other problems, such as mild heart disease or perhaps even an insulinoma. If Silk is a healthy 7.5 year old, the surgery poses little more risk than when she was 4 years old. But before we proceed, I would recommend a blood screen and a chest X-ray. I'm a big fan of surgery for adrenal disease, as any of the people who read regularly will tell you. There is currently no consistently effective medical treatment for this condiditon in ferrets. But at 7.5 years, the big question is whether Silk can take the surgery or not. 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 1064]