The adrenal gland has one of the most important functions for many animals. It produces adrenaline. The body releases adrenaline in most critical and life-threatening situations which boosts our reflexes for a moment until the danger passes. In ferrets, the adrenal glands regulate a number of bodily functions, so having adrenal disease can have a serious impact on their health.
There are two adrenal glands present in ferrets.
They are relatively small and are located near the kidneys. They help ferrets and other species in escaping and avoiding life-threatening situations. In a way, you can say, without the adrenal glands, the death ratio of species will be too high.
The other functions of adrenal glands are quite important too. They produce reproductive hormones, also known as testosterone, and another hormone called estrogen. Besides, they also help in regulating blood.
Now, you know how much of an important role an adrenal gland plays inside the body of a ferret. But what if it gets damaged from within?
Well, let’s find out how a damaged adrenal gland or adrenal disease affects a ferret.
What Is Adrenal Disease In Ferrets?
The adrenal disease appears when the adrenal gland starts producing too many hormones and overworks itself. Usually, this happens among humans and other animals as well, but in the case of ferrets, it works a bit differently.
A ferret catches adrenal disease when it reaches the age of 4 or 5 years. It mostly appears when the ferret is middle-aged.
When a ferret catches the adrenal disease, it means the adrenal gland in them is producing too many reproductive hormones.
This disease normally takes place in a ferret when the adrenal gland is growing at an excessive rate or when a tumor or cancer is present inside the body.
According to many doctors, adrenal disease in ferrets occurs due to neutering or spaying also. These procedures stop the sex hormones in ferrets, however, the production hormones simultaneously increase which overburden the adrenal gland.
Don’t think that you shouldn’t get your ferret neutered.
In reality, neutering or spaying a ferret is a good thing as it protects them from other health diseases. It also makes them better domestic pets who get along with everyone. Adrenal disease is just one small side effect that happens because of neutering or spraying.
Luckily, adrenal disease can be treated.
What Are The Symptoms Of Adrenal Disease In Ferrets?
There are many small and major symptoms of adrenal diseases, but here is the list of the most common ones. You always should watch out for them if you have a ferret.
- Hair Loss
The hair loss usually starts spreading from the tail and reaches the stomach when adrenal disease is present in a ferret’s body. It hair loss problem eventually covers the whole body, though it takes a few months. In severe cases, if you don’t treat this disease on time, it can make your ferret bald as well.
- Itching
Too much hair loss will cause itchiness on the ferret’s body. They will scratch and bite themselves. Too much scratching and biting will give them itch marks and deep wounds.
- Excessive Hormones
Even if you get your ferret neutered, they will start showing signs of sexuality, such as stress and aggression. Male ferrets get too aggressive with people and fellow ferrets when they have this disease. In addition, because of excessive hormones in their body, it becomes hard for them to urinate due to inflammation. Female ferrets, on the other hand, get in heat and look for a mate.
- Swelling
When female ferrets get in heat in the presence of adrenal disease their vulva enlarges a lot, which gives them pain, while male ferrets get an enlarged and swollen prostate gland.
- Urinating Troubles
Enlarged vulva and prostate gland cause trouble to both male and female ferrets in urinating. It will also cause inflammation. If the urinating problem persists, it causes infections, particularly in the male ferret’s prostate gland.
- Anemia
Anemia mostly develops in female ferrets. You will see signs like paleness of gums and weakness in their body. They will become lethargic and won’t stay active.
How Long Do Ferrets Live With Adrenal Disease?
A ferret can live a normal happy life with an adrenal gland disease. It requires proper treatment and checkups with the vet to ensure there aren’t any other infections and diseases building up due to this problem.
If all stays normal then you don’t have to perform any big operations to get rid of it.
Fortunately, adrenal disease is not painful for the ferret for the most part. With proper care, they can live comfortably with this disease for the rest of their life.
Diagnosis Of Adrenal Disease
A diagnosis is very important for any ferret going through an adrenal disease. Take your ferret to a good vet, and allow them to make the diagnosis, rather than jumping to conclusions from google or even this article. It will help the doctors see what exactly is wrong with your pet and whether there are any additional diseases and infections inside the ferret’s body.
They will do blood count tests, ultrasounds, and radiographs. This will help them see the health of the whole body. If they find signs of infection near the prostate then they will also do a urine test to help identify the right problems.
The ultrasound is immensely important in the diagnosis process. It focuses on the adrenal glands and discovers which gland is getting swollen. This way the doctors know which gland needs to be treated exactly.
What Is The Treatment Of Adrenal Disease In Ferrets?
This disease can be treated by using a proper medical treatment or surgery.
- Surgical Method
The surgical method requires surgical removal of the damaged adrenal gland.
The doctors put the ferret under anesthesia and open up his body. They enter the body through their tools and swiftly remove the diseased adrenal gland.
It is not an easy process as the glands are connected to many blood vessels; one wrong move can cause a life-threatening situation.
Surgical removal of the adrenal gland comes with a lot of risks. For that reason, first, you need to make sure if it is the right option for your ferret.
- Medical Method
The medical method involves two further methods – Lupron and Deslorelin.
Lupron has been proved successful over many years by the doctors, so you can rest assure that it is safe to be used. However, Deslorelin is still a new product in the market, therefore, doctors still don’t know how well it works with ferrets and their adrenal disease.
Keep in mind that surgical removal of the adrenal gland is more useful than the medical method.