Ferret Adrenal Disease

THE PROBLEM
Adrenal disease in ferrets arises secondary to an abnormal adrenal gland. The adrenals are two small hormone-producing organs that lie near the kidneys. They are responsible for producing a number of different hormones from sex-hormones to adrenaline. In ferret adrenal disease appears in one of two forms: hyperplasia (over-growth), or the growth of a functional tumor lead to the over-production of certain hormones. It is the over-production of the sex hormones in particular that are typically the root cause of the symptoms we will see in ferrets.


THE CLINICAL SIGNS
Below is a list of clinical signs, the most common signs listed first, this is not an exhaustive list:

• Symmetrical alopecia (hair loss)

• Pruritis (itchiness)

• Enlarged vulva

• Vulva discharge

• Mammary gland enlargement

• Aggressive sexual behavior

• Partial or complete urinary blockage

DIAGNOSTICS
We start with a thorough history and physical exam. It is possible to be reasonably confident on a diagnosis with these alone, but we often recommend a further workup to rule out concurrent diseases, for a definitive diagnosis, and to provide the most educated prognosis. Additional tests include:

• Full bloodwork (CBC and Chemistry)

• Advanced bloodwork (special hormone panels are available, but of limited use)

• X-Rays

• Ultrasound

• Exploratory Surgery

(Ferrets usually need general anesthesia for us to draw blood and perform high-quality x-ray and ultrasound exams.)

We believe placing an implant and observing for relief of symptoms is a very reasonable and safe diagnostic test for adrenal disease, even without other testing.

TREATMENT OPTIONS
There are several options for treatment. At present the most widely accepted treatment option is a hormone implant about the size of a small piece of rice. This is a simple procedure that is done with brief general anesthesia to ensure proper placement. The implant releases a specific hormone which in turn inhibits the over-secretion of the hormones the abnormal adrenal glands are secreting. The effects take approximately 2 weeks to set in, and can last anywhere from 3 to 30 months, with an average of about 16 months. Often this is the only form of treatment necessary.

Surgery is the other primary treatment option. We rarely recommend surgery, because of several important risks, and also because surgery only offers a similar to slightly lower average time before the return of symptoms compared to the implant.

There are additional medications and other treatment options, but none are as safe of effective as the implant so we rarely recommend them.

PROGNOSIS
The prognosis is extremely variable and reliant on a number of things; the physical size of the tumor and whether it is invading nearby organs or vessels, the extent of secondary disease processes, and any concurrent, unrelated disease processes. Many pets can survive months or years with good quality life.