There are small glands located near the kidneys.Steroids, sex hormones, and adrenaline are produced by them.Adrenal disease is very common in ferrets and can be caused by overgrowth or a tumor.Sex hormones can make ferrets sick.Adrenal disease doesn't get better on its own, so veterinary treatment is needed to treat it.
Step 1: Determine if surgery is the best option.
A surgical removal of the affected adrenal is the most effective way to treat the disease in ferrets.Your vet will look at a number of factors to determine if surgery is a good idea for your ferret.Factors include your ferrets age, presence of other diseases, and severity of clinical signs.If both of your ferret's adrenals are affected, surgery is not a good idea.hormone deficiencies would be caused by removing both adrenals.It may not be financially feasible for your ferret to need lifelong hormone supplements.If surgery is not an option for your ferret, your vet will recommend medication to treat the symptoms of adrenal disease.
Step 2: Discuss surgical challenges.
The location of the adrenal can make or break a surgery.It is easy to remove the left adrenal.The right adrenal is attached to the vena cava.The vena cava carries blood from the lower half of the body to the heart.It is very difficult to remove the part of the vena cava where the adrenal is attached.If your vet doesn't have a lot of experience with removing ferret adrenals, you will most likely be referred to a veterinary surgeon with more experience.Since it would only slow down the progression of the disease and not cure it, partial removal is not a reasonable treatment option.
Step 3: Your vet can remove the affected glands.
If your ferret is a good candidate for surgery, your vet will anesthetize and perform the surgery.During surgery, your vet will use heating pads or hot water bottles to keep your ferret warm.On the day of the surgery, you will be able to take your ferret home.
Step 4: Take care of your ferret's recovery.
Hair loss is a sign of adrenal disease in ferrets.A ferret's recovery will involve regrowth of hair.After about 6 months, the hair will grow back and be fully regrown.The hair will grow back as soon as 2 weeks after the surgery.Sometimes, after an adrenalectomy, the remaining adrenal develops a tumor.Look for signs of adrenal disease in your ferret, such as hair loss and difficulty urinating.The external part of a female's body is called the vagina.About 40% of ferrets have disease after an adrenalectomy.
Step 5: Give your ferret melatonin.
If your ferret can't be operated on, it's a good idea to talk with your vet about other options, such as melatonin.The body produces melatonin.In ferrets, it coordinates with hormones in the brain to control sex hormones.This control is disrupted when a ferret is neutered or spayed.The treatment blocks the release of hormones from the brain.melatonin implants that go under the skin can mimic melatonin levels in the body.The implant would be injected under the skin.Your vet would need to replace the implant every 3-6 months.It is difficult to give an oral medication to a ferret.Ferrets can easily spit out pills.Melatonin is not a cure.
Step 6: Lupron should be administered by your vet.
Estradiol and testosterone are blocked by Lupron.It can be given as a muscle injection or a slow-release implant.The injection can last a while.The swelling at the injection site is normal if your vet gives your ferret a Lupron injection.Lupron is expensive and must be given for the duration of a ferret's life.
Step 7: Discuss other treatments with your vet.
Other drugs include Mitotane and deslorelin.The main function of each drug is to suppress sex hormone release from the adrenals.Your vet can tell you which drugs will work best in your ferret.Deslorelin is placed under the skin.The drugs will not cure the disease of your ferret.The disease symptoms will be reduced by them.
Step 8: The symptoms of adrenal disease can be identified.
Hair loss in the torso and rear legs is what a ferret with adrenal disease will have.A ferret may go bald as the disease continues.Hair loss is one of the symptoms of adrenal disease.Weakness and fatigue can occur in male and female ferrets.
Step 9: Feed your ferret a balanced diet.
Poor diet is not the cause ofrenal disease.A ferret gets all the vitamins and minerals it needs from a healthy diet.Chicken or turkey should be included in your ferret's diet.A ferret diet should have some fat.All of your ferret's needs can be met with commercially available packaged foods.Your vet can tell you which ferret food to buy.It would be easy to feed your ferret freeze-dried or frozen commercial foods.Feed your ferret small meals every few hours.Ferrets like drinking water when they eat, so make sure your ferret's water bottle is full at meal time.Ferrets can't digest sugars.
Step 10: Your ferret needs a healthy environment.
A healthy living environment is important to a ferret.A ferret living environment that is large enough for it to play in, well-stocked with toys, and has a safe sleeping area is ideal.The ferret environment should be free of dangerous objects, such as electric wires, and should have a shallow water bath if the ferret likes playing in water.
Step 11: Take your ferret for regular checks.
Your ferret can benefit from regular veterinary exams.Early disease detection can be served by the checkups.Once a year, take your ferret to the vet for a physical exam and vaccinations.Your vet will take a fecal sample to test for parasites.Blood work, x-rays, and urinalysis are some of the tests your vet will run if your ferret is over 3 years old.