What causes Hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets?
Hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets is caused by excessive secretion of the sex hormones progesterone, testosterone (in the form of androstenedione), and estrogen by the zona reticularis of the adrenal gland.
What are the symptoms of adrenal disease in ferrets?
Signs of Adrenal Disease in Ferrets
- Hair loss (alopecia), especially starting with the tail and rump.
- Females: vulva swelling.
- Males: enlarged prostate, difficulty urinating.
- Increased sexual aggression (males often grab and drag females by the nape of the neck)
- Muscle atrophy.
- Pruritus (itchiness)
- Thinning of the skin.
What is adrenal ferret?
The adrenal glands are small organs located just in front of the kidneys and close to major blood vessels in the ferret’s body. The right adrenal gland is especially close to a major blood vessel — the vena cava. The glands produce adrenaline, cortisol, sex hormones and several other important hormones.
How is adrenal disease diagnosed in ferrets?
There are two tests available to specifically diagnose adrenal disease itself:
- Ferret adrenal panel: Your veterinarian sends a blood sample to the laboratory for endocrine testing.
- Abdominal or adrenal ultrasound: This test is done by a skilled veterinarian, often a specialist in radiology.
How long can my ferret live with adrenal disease?
Many ferrets can live for years with adrenal gland disease. As long as they are receiving regular check-ups with a veterinarian, in addition to monitoring and treatment for any secondary infections or disorders, a ferret can live a normal life span comfortably with the disease.
How do you treat adrenocortical disease in ferrets?
Adrenocortical disease can be treated in two ways: surgical removal of the affected adrenal gland(s), or medical management. After the appropriate diagnostics to ensure your ferret’s overall health, surgery may be elected to remove the enlarged adrenal gland.
Why is my ferret losing all her hair?
A very common cause of ferrets losing their hair is a hormonal problem, known as adrenocortical disease. Over 40 percent of ferrets over 3 years old will develop this problem. The first area to start to lose hair is generally the tail. All of these symptoms relate to an overproduction of hormones by the adrenal glands.
Why is my ferret losing his hair?
The most common cause of alopecia in ferrets is adrenal disease, which is a serious condition that requires surgical treatment. Other causes include allergic reactions, bacterial infections, parasitic infections, immune disorders, and an unbalanced diet. Hair loss, also known as alopecia, is fairly common in ferrets.
Do symptoms of Addison’s disease come and go?
Symptoms tend to come and go and may include abdominal pain, dizziness, fatigue, weight loss, salt craving, and the darkening of the skin.
Can Addison’s disease be caused by stress?
This is called acute adrenal insufficiency, or Addisonian crisis. This can occur when your body is stressed. That can happen for many reasons, such as an illness, fever, surgery, or dehydration. You may also have a crisis if you stop taking your steroids or lower the amount of your steroids suddenly.
Can you have low cortisol and not have Addison’s disease?
High levels of ACTH accompanied by no cortisol may indicate Addison’s disease. Low levels or no ACTH indicate secondary adrenal insufficiency.