What is adrenal disease?
Adrenal disease or adrenal associated endocrinopathy (AAE) is one of the most common diseases of middle aged to older ferrets. The disease syndrome is caused by a tumor of the adrenal gland which secretes excessive amounts of estrogen, testosterone and other hormones. This excessive hormone production is the cause for clinical signs and can lead to life threatening health problems if left unchecked. What are the signs of adrenal disease? The disease syndrome is characterized by hair loss beginning at the base of the tail and gradually spreading forward along the shoulders and back. Behavior changes may also be seen which include aggression along with increased mounting and marking behavior. Reproductive abnormalities include vaginal discharge and vulvar swelling in female ferrets along with straining to urinate in males. Chronic cases may show increased bruising, muscle wasting, lethargy and hind end weakness. How is adrenal disease diagnosed? In most cases, diagnosis is made by clinic
