Why Do Ferrets Get Adrenal Gland Tumors?
Some people think that the problem is due to the small gene pool of American ferrets. Most American ferrets are derived from a small number of animals obtained by George Marshall in the 1950’s. It may be that the inbreeding that resulted, increased the animal’s susceptibility to these tumors. Others feel that the practice of neutering ferrets very young is the cause of this disease. It does not appear to be as common in Scandinavia where ferrets are often left un neutered. Neutering ferrets removes the target organs (ovaries, testicles) for hormones (GnRH) produced by the pituitary gland within the brain. Since this gland no longer has circulating blood products to keep it in check, it produces an excess of hormone, which is closely related to the hormone that naturally stimulates adrenal gland activity (ACTH). After years of stimulation, the adrenal glands may become cancerous or simply enlarged and hyperactive. In either case, it then produces abnormally high levels of female (estrog
