>From: Cray Stephenson <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Cushings Urine test >From what I have seen and read "True" Cushings disease (Hyperadrenocortism) >is rare in ferrets. Adrenal disease in ferrets is normally >hyperestrogenism. This could explain why the cushings test is unreliable >(the are checking for cortisol levels) and why the UT test is reliable >(checking estrogen levels). No. Ferrets get hyperadrenocorticism (adrenal disease) quite easily but instead of producing high levels of cortisol, they produce a variety of other hormones and/or steroids in excessive amounts. One of these may be, but not always, estrogen. Cushing's disease is a type of hyperadrenocorticism characterized by excessive cortisol. Mike Dutton, DVM, DABVP [Posted in FML issue 2095]