814 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. (US HWY17)
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
(843) 216-VETS (8387)
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Ferret Surgeries: Adrenal disease is a very common disease of ferrets over 2 years of age. It is either a neoplasia (cancer) or hyperplasia (overactivity) of the adrenal glands, which are located near the top of the kidneys. These glands are part of the endocrine or hormone producing system of the body. For unknown reasons in ferrets the adrenal glands become diseased and not only can enlarge and cause pressure on surrounding tissues, such as the kidney and vena cava, but also produce excessive amounts of androgens or sex hormones. This overproduction of hormones results in a variety of signs including a symmetrical loss of hair, increase in body odor, enlargement of the vulva in spayed females, return of the mating or aggressive urge in neutered males, dry brittle haircoat and itchy skin. In addition, some males can develop an enlargement of the prostate gland, which constricts urinary outflow. These ferrets have difficulty urinating and eventually may not be able to urinate at all. The treatment for adrenal disease is usually a combination of surgery to remove a portion or all of the adrenal glands and medical therapy.
Insulinoma (pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma or beta cell tumors) is one of the most common tumors diagnosed in domestic ferrets. Most ferrets that we see with insulinoma are around 4 to 5 years of age; however, ferrets as young as 2 years of age have been diagnosed with insulinoma. Typical signs include lethargy, collapse, hind limb weakness and in severe cases seizures. A tentative diagnosis is based on history, clinical signs and low blood glucose level. Definite diagnosis is made with a biopsy. Treatment options are medical and surgical management, with surgery being the treatment of choice. Metastasis of insulinoma to other organs is rare in ferrets, but recurrence is likely. It is critical to remove as much carbohydrate from the diet as possible as well because carbohydrates will only aggravate the condition.
Foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract are common in ferrets, particularly those under a year of age. They love to eat foam and latex rubber, which can become lodged in the intestine or stomach. In addition, ferrets over one year of age can develop large masses of hair in the stomach, which also can cause an obstruction. All of these situations are dangerous and usually require surgery to remove the foreign material. Signs of a foreign body obstruction include lethargy, extreme dehydration, vomiting (but they often don't), and lack of stools, painful abdomen, seizures and death. The best preventative for this problem is to adequately ferret proof the environment as described previously.
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