Adrenal disease is a growth of the adrenal glands which may be cancer related or hyperplasia.  Adrenal disease in your pet ferret is usually diagnosed by the following signs…

• Unusual hair loss
• Difficulty  urinating due to enlarged prostate
• Defecating
• Increased aggression
• Constant grooming of themselves & others
• Agitation when urinating

Ferret with Adrenal Disease

Any signs of an enlarged prostate or an enlarged vulva (in females) should be treated as an emergency as this condition can cause hormonal imbalances even if tumors or growths are found to be benign.  Hormonal imbalances can have devastating effects on a ferret’s overall health.

Adrenal disease is usually detected in spring or fall, which is when the hormones that make their fur grow start showing signs of any imbalance.  If the winter coat sheds and does not grow back properly, this could be signs of trouble.  Adrenal disease has a specific pattern of that hair loss follows, beginning at the base of the tail and continuing up the back.  Treatment by either surgery or hormone therapy should see the recovery of their natural hair pattern over time as their bodies recover, even if there was severe hair loss.

The causes of adrenal disease are still not completely known.  Some speculate that diets consisting of processed commercial foods play a part, along with having your ferret neutered prior to puberty.  Also, unnatural light cycles may have something to do with the onset of this disease.

The right diet is very important for your pet ferret.  There are many different commercial foods on the market made for ferrets along with more natural diets which can also be purchased.  You may even elect to be your pet’s personal chef to make sure he is getting the nutrition he needs.  There are many homemade recipes posted in forums and various site on the web.  Make sure to find the right method for your pet’s health.  Also remember that keeping a clean cage is another important part of your pet ferret’s health.  Ever hear of foot rot?  This is another disease your ferret can contract from a dirty cage.  I’ll touch more on that later on in another post.

Most of this information came from wikipedia, on ferret adrenal disease .  The photo showing a ferret with adrenal disease was taken and provided courtesy of Stacy Lynn Baum.