Hello All: Four weeks ago I posted that we were beginning experimental adrenal treatments using a relatively new (in ferrets anyway) drug named Anipryl. I've been making weekly posts on what we've seen so far. Quick background ---------------- Newone is an 8 year old neutered female who has had inoperable adrenal tumors since she was 6. Most of her hair is gone, but the use of colloidal silver seems to have stabilized her disease. Puck is a 6 year old albino neutered male, with intact scent glands. He was diagnosed with adrenal in 1995 and had the right adrenal removed (the easy one). This past Christmas he suffered a nasty bite to the neck which got severely infected, had to be operated on, and which seemed to retrigger his adrenal. Hair regrowth in the wounded area was very slow, and his hair began thinning out along portions of his spine and tail in classic adrenal fashion. In response to these problems, our vet suggested treatment with Anipryl, which she has been using successfully in dogs. Dosage is .5mg per day per weasel, with the pill hidden in a raisin. We began treatment on 2/20/98. Results So Far -------------- Our vet believed we would not see any results until about 1 month of treatment. The ferrets being treated continue to drink more water than 'normal', but we've seen no particular downside to that. We are scheduled to take Puck in for another blood test sometime next week to continue monitoring for any kidney or liver related problems as a side effect of the drug, however. Puck's hair continues to come in rapidly. His neck hair where he was initially wounded is essentially back to full length, though it's a bit shorter where he still has some scabbing. The patch on his throat that was shaved for the blood test in nearly full length, though it will likely be shaved again when his next test occurs (poor baby). There's a lot of stubble at the tip of his tail and longer hairs up the tail towards his spine. Puck does feel like his weight may have dropped slightly in the last week, though this could be due to yet another cold that's swept through the kids. Puck continues to be alert, bright, and playful. Newone remains much the same as she was, bouncy and alert. Her energy levels are definitely higher than they have been, and she seems somewhat steadier in her footing than before. Her very slight hair growth has continued, though again nothing at all like Puck's. She's got very short and fine hairs coming in on her back paws now in addition to what we've seen on her flanks and tail. Summary ------- Puck: Continued aggressive hair growth, possible slight weight loss; alert and happy Newone: Very slight hair growth in areas, healthier skin, alert and happy We'll post results of Puck's next blood test once it's done. Steve, from the High Mountains of Colorado "Don't Trust Anyone Under 14,000 Feet" [Posted in FML issue 2254]