Ferrets and Adrenal?

If a ferret is not treated for adrenal do they suffer? How long can a ferret live with adrenal?
Answers:
I have had three ferrets that ended up with adrenal disease. One was recovering on oral melatonin for over a year. He died suddenly in his sleep of unknown causes. The second developed cancer and heart problems and lived for six months after diagnosis. My little girly has had it for going on three years now. She was never a good surgical candidate - too much abuse and neglect before I got her. She has recovered her fur and has been playful and happy on oral melatonin. Last year, she developed insulinoma, a condition that often accompanies adrenal disease. She is beginning to slow down and lose ground, but she still enjoys her food and cuddle and playtime.

In male ferrets, an enlarged prostate leading to renal failure is a side effect of adrenal. Regular check-ups are needed to monitor this because by the time any symptoms show up it's well developed. Females can also develop urinary tract problems. Watch for a ferret running to the litterbox several times but not doing much.

Where I live, there isn't a vet that will do the surgery or the implant - they are mostly farm vets and not very ferret knowledgeable. The only reason I have my babies is they were rescues from people that brought them into the area and then didn't know what to do with them. However, many stores carry melatonin, which can be dissolved in water and mixed into Stage 2 Gerber chicken or turkey and fed to your ferret. The recommended dosage is 1-3 mcg everyday 7-9 hours after sunrise. It mimics their normal circadian rhythm, which the adrenal glands are supposed to do.

Without treatment of some kind, adrenal disease is a wasting disease causing loss of all fur and gradual loss of muscle, but a pot-belly appearance due to fat accumulating in the abdomen. There will be increased body odor due to hormones running amok. The skin becomes very dry and itchy, requiring application of lotion and dosages of Benedryl.
This will at least make your ferret more comfortable.

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There are 3 forms adrenal disease can take on:

*Hyperplasia: Excessive growth of the adrenocortical tissue. At this stage the glands are still performing normally.

*Benign Tumor: Enlargement of the adrenal gland(s). At this stage the gland(s) begin to lose their normal functionality and the disease may begin affecting their overall health.

*Carcinoma (Malignant) Tumor: Enlargement of the adrenal gland(s). At this stage the gland(s) is generally no longer functioning as normal and the disease begins wrecking havoc on the ferret. During late stage it is very possible for the gland to rupture.

Older non-surgical ferrets can go 2-3 years with good quality of life.

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Of course they suffer AND will die without medication or surgery.

Even with surgery and medication it is not uncommon for a ferrets life to be extended only by about a year and a half.

Its never good news to hear your ferret has an adrenal problem.