Adrenal Gland Disease in Ferrets
January 2008
in “
The veterinary clinics of North America. Exotic animal practice
”
TLDR Adrenal gland disease is common in ferrets and causes hair loss and other symptoms.
Adrenal gland disease in ferrets was increasingly prevalent, affecting 70% of pet ferrets in the U.S. by 2003. The disease's causes were unclear but might have included early neutering, prolonged indoor lighting, and genetics. Symptoms included progressive hair loss, pruritus, lethargy, atrophy, and vulvar swelling in females. Understanding these signs and physiological changes was crucial for diagnosis and treatment, with a review of anatomy, physiology, and current surgical and medical options provided.