PLEASE READ THIS AND REPLY IF YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH FUR LOSS NOT NECESSARILY RELATED TO ADRENAL PROBLEMS! (Sorry to yell.) Here's the scoop: McKyle, my 1 1/2 year old MF boy, has some weird fur loss. First (7-10 months ago) he had a thumbprint-sized patch of baldness on his right rear/side, closer to the middle than the butt. The skin was slightly pinker than the surrounding furry skin, and the spot seemed a tiny bit raised (swollen). So we took him to the vet then. He did not have the TN panel (or whatever it is that can be used to diagnose adrenal disease), but he did have blood drawn 3 separate times for bloodwork, which in the end showed a particular value to be steadily decreasing (it had been too high), and so the vet (we saw Dr. Schirmer, who works at Dr. Kemmerer's hospital) thought this was a good thing and NOT indicative of adrenal disease. Now, what this value was I cannot remember, but I'm sure I could get that from his file at the vet's if someone thought it necessary in order to help me with this situation. I don't question the expertise of Dr. Schirmer, but I wonder- can the levels of whatever value he was looking at really be able to make him think it's not an adrenal problem? (My understanding is that the TN panel is the only sure method of diagnosis.) But I digress. Well, the bald spot we went to the vet for at that time eventually grew hair back over it. However, the problem now is that the exact same spot is bald again (and has the same very slight pinkness & swelling). Also, today I noticed a couple of dime-sized, irregularly shaped bald patches just above where his front leg attaches to his body- sort of at the base of the neck, in the front (belly side). One of them has a small scab that's almost healed on it, but I see scabs on the ferrets every once in a while just because they play a bit rough sometimes. So now I am again scared that I *may* have an adrenal problem on my hands. However, I just have a weird sort of feeling that that's not it. I mean, there's no hair loss on the tail at all, and the first bald spot grew hair back for a while, and the vet's tests denied adrenal problems. So WHAT IS THIS??? I am so worried, and I am at such a loss. We could go see the vet again, but if the same tests will be done again, will they be able to tell us anything conclusive? The ferrets are generally pretty itchy, but I thought that was just ferrets. We do use Cheer-Free detergent (for my sensitive skin as much as theirs). I saw a flea recently which I think they picked up from my mom-in-law's stinkin' cat >:( at Christmas. I am going to get some Advantage, but I don't think the fleas could have caused enough itchiness yet to make McKyle scratch himself bald. I just don't know what to do!!! And until I find out I will be worrying myself sick. If you can give me knowledgeable information about this PLEASE e-mail me privately! Thank you!! --Rachelle (The worried mom) [log in to unmask] ---McKyle (Hey! Where's my fur going?) ---Merlin (My shaved arms are starting to look pretty furry again!) [Posted in FML issue 2555]