What Is Adrenal Disease in Ferrets?

All mammals have what is known as the endocrine system. This isa collection of organs and glands in the body responsible for producinghormones and maintaining their levels in the body. Two adrenal glands are partof this system.

Adrenal glands are small, located near thekidneys, and are responsible for regulating stress hormones, such as cortisol,steroids, and sex hormones. If something goes wrong with the adrenal glands,the typical mammal either over- or under-produces steroids and stress hormones.

Ferrets are special in that they candevelop adrenal disease, which is characterized by the overproduction of sexhormones, due to a tumor in their adrenal gland(s). This condition isincredibly rare in just about any other animal, but it occurs in up to 25% offerrets in the U.S.

Ferretsmay die in as little as a few months if adrenal disease is left untreated. Ifyou notice any of the following symptoms in your ferret, contact yourveterinarian right away.

Symptoms of Adrenal Disease in Ferrets

Signs of adrenal disease can be slow to develop in ferrets. Itmay appear as only seasonal hair thinning at the tail or some mild behavioralchanges. Over time, symptoms of adrenal disease in ferrets persist and mayinclude:

·       Equal hair loss on both sides of the body starting at the tailthat can spread through the back and trunk

·       Swollen vulva or mammaries in females

·       Vaginal discharge

·       Increased drinking with increased urination

·       Swollen belly

·       Aggression toward people or cage mates

·       Difficulty defecating

Increased sex hormones can cause anenlarged prostate in male ferrets. Symptoms of this include:

·       Struggling to urinate or failure to pass urine

·       Vocalizing while urinating or defecating

Causes of Adrenal Disease in Ferrets

Adrenal disease in ferrets has been studied at length becausetheir adrenal tumors are different from just about all other species.Comparison between populations of ferrets in several countries have helpedidentify some of the most likely causes of adrenal disease in ferrets.

·       Neutering age—Ferrets inthe U.S. are neutered at 4–6 weeks of age, and other countries that also neuterat this age have similar rates of adrenal disease. Countries that neuter theirferrets closer to 1 year of age have nearly no cases of adrenal disease.

·       Genetics—The petferret populations in the U.S. come from one breeder and have becomegenetically isolated. Their genes may be causing the tumors, but it appearsmore likely that their genetics predispose them to being more sensitive to thehormone changes after neutering, which trigger tumor growth over time.

·       Photoperiod—Ferretbreeding season is dictated by the length of daylight. Artificial lighting inthe home may be causing a ferret’s adrenal glands to think they need to producesex hormones in support of breeding year-round, instead of seasonally. Thisstress can be contributing to tumor growth in their adrenals.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Adrenal Diseasein Ferrets

The most common symptom of adrenal disease in ferrets issymmetrical hair loss at the tail. This symptom can be enough to diagnose thedisease.

Blood work assessing hormone levels is thebest way for vets to achieve a definitive diagnosis. Imaging from an ultrasoundmay detect an enlarged adrenal gland or prostate. Other imaging, biopsysamples, and tests can sometimes be used for diagnosis, but are less accurate.

Treatment of Adrenal Disease in Ferrets

If a ferret only has adrenal disease in one adrenal gland,surgical removal of the affected gland can cure the disease. However, the otheradrenal gland can become diseased at any time. Both adrenals cannot be removedentirely; Adrenal glands help regulate normal body functions, so removing bothglands completely can cause other terminal problems for the ferret.

Medicinal treatment is now more common foradrenal disease in ferrets due to lower cost and risk than surgical options,regardless of whether one or both adrenals are affected.

Treating adrenal disease medicinally is amulti-step process, including the administration of:

·       Deslorelin—a chemicalthat mimics a hormone found naturally in ferrets. Deslorelin slowly decreasesadrenal gland stimulation and hormone release. This can significantly improvesymptoms but doesn’t treat adrenal tumors themselves. Deslorelin comes as animplant that can be injected under the skin, leading to resolution of symptomswithin two to six weeks that lasts three to 30 months.

·       Leuprolide—a chemicalthat mimics the same hormone as deslorelin. Leuprolide is an alternative thatrequires monthly injections, in contrast to deslorelin’s one-time injection.

·       Melatoninsupplementation may help offset the negative effects of artificiallighting, especially during summer when days are longer. A long-lasting implantcan be injected under the skin every six months to make treatment simple.

·       For ferrets with enlarged prostates affecting their quality oflife, medications such as flutamine, bicalutamide, or finasteride canbe used to shrink the prostate and alleviate symptoms.

·       Anastrozole can beused to alleviate excess estrogen levels caused by adrenal disease in ferrets.

While not common, some ferrets with adrenaldisease show signs of severe anemia (not enough healthy red blood cells) andmay require a blood transfusion.

Recovery and Management of Adrenal Diseasein Ferrets

Daily medication may be given to ferrets that are not treatedwith the use of implants. In addition, pet parents can set a ferret’s lightingon timers to mimic daylight which may help control symptoms.

Ferrets that have had adrenal gland surgeryor are under medicinal management should anticipate six-month re-checks by yourveterinarian for assessment and potential blood work.

Progression of adrenal tumors and/orprostate enlargement will continue over time. In male ferrets that weren’talready showing signs of prostate enlargement, it can develop any time. Anenlarged prostate may cause urinary obstruction which can be very painful forferrets.

Adrenal disease in ferrets can also lead toinsulinomas (tumors in the pancreas).

A ferret with poor adrenal function mayshow signs of lethargy and inappetence, which can be treated with steroidsupplementation.

Prevention of Adrenal Gland Disease inFerrets

Though not legal everywhere, delayingneutering can prevent adrenal gland disease in male ferrets.

Ferrets must be sold neutered in the U.S.and are therefore neutered at a young age. Leuprolide injections or deslorelinimplants may prevent adrenal gland tumors in these ferrets. Your veterinariancan help you determine what makes sense for your ferret based on their healthand history.

Adrenal Disease in Ferrets FAQs

How long will a ferret live with adrenaldisease?

While this varies greatly based upon the time of diagnosis,general survival rates are about one to two years with medicinal or surgicaltreatment of adrenal disease in ferrets.

What is the most useful test in thediagnosis of adrenal disease in ferrets?

Blood tests are the most useful for diagnosing adrenal diseasein ferrets.

Can you cure adrenal disease in ferrets?

If both adrenal glands are affected and both are removed,adrenal disease in ferrets could be cured. However, removal of both adrenalglands isn’t sustainable for a ferret and creates its own terminal problems.Because of this, the disease, unfortunately, cannot be cured.

Is adrenal disease painful for ferrets?

When controlled, adrenal disease is not painful in ferrets.Enlarged prostates can be painful or uncomfortable, but this can be improvedwith treatment.

At what age do ferrets get adrenal disease?

Adrenal disease mostly affects middle-aged ferrets of about 3–6years of age.

What happens if you don’t treat adrenaldisease in ferrets?

Ferrets may succumb to adrenal disease in as little as a fewmonths if they are left untreated.