From:
"bzwithmybirds"
Date: 2008-05-30 18:43:46 UTC
Subject: [ferrethealth] Question about Adrenal Disease...LONG
To: ferrethealth@yahoogroups.com
I've researched the archives and come up with ZIP, so I'm counting on
the experts here for some education!
Ickius, my 4 year old, spayed/descented male ferret, is exhibiting
what seem to be some of the classic signs of adrenal disease:
-- "Old Man" wrinkly, somwhat pouchy, bald belly - not a huge
potbelly - but he's not a huge ferret.
-- Thinning hair over his body, but not in the classic "base of the
tail" or "saddle" shape. He's NOT bald, but has blown more of his
coat this spring than all the others.
-- Very hyper, ALL THE TIME. He's been a very mellow little dude,
until lately. He races up and down the 4 levels of his cage if I'm
anywhere around, and I can hear him doing it when I'm not! He bugs
his two male cagemates when they try to sleep, to the point that
they're moving to seperate hammocks to avoid him.
-- During "out" time, he's begun to scruff the other, larger male
ferrets, and is playing very roughly. (Not at all his normal nature.)
He seems to be showing sexual(?) aggression.
-- Periodically, Ickius gets an erection. This was the first symptom
that made me think he had adrenal trouble - I read about this on one
of the sites in the Links. He seems to be overly interested in
sniffing the other males' privates, too. He's not been mounting them,
or trying to mate with the spayed girls.
-- He's lost a bit of weight, but not a huge amount. At first I
thought he looked smaller when he lost his winter coat, but he's now
leaner than his (non-related) brother of the same age. They've always
been within an ounce of each other.
-- His skin is getting that "transparent" look, and yesterday I
noticed that he's clumsier than normal. So my guess is that his back
legs are being affected.
Now, here's the question: I've read about prostrate problems in
ferrets with adrenal disease, but usually it's about them having
trouble urinating. Ickius is the opposite. Up until lately, he never
peed outside the litterbox. Now, he sometimes leaks and/or sprays
urine. Sometimes he drinks it, which I've read is a normal male
ferret behavior. Often he doesn't, though. Has anyone experienced
this with adrenal ferrets, or is this something else entirely? My
first thought was that he had a UTI or crystals, but I've witnessed
him using the box without discomfort, or straining to pee. His
puddles are not pink or red, either.
He's eating and drinking normally, is obviously very (too) active,
and would play-play-play all day. Tomorrow we're off to the vet, and
I'd love to have a clue about the urination issue before I see him.
No doubt we'll be coming home with a melatonin implant and Lupron
Depot shot, as I've no $$ for immediate surgery. When finances
improve, if the vet agrees he's a good candidate, then he'll get
surgery.
Thanks for any and all feedback!
- Lisa and Ickius
[Moderator's Note:
Remember that the full archives are separate and can be linked to from the
home page of the FHL at several places.
I think your problem might be that you looked up
prostrate
rather than
prostate
because you add the extra "r" in your post above,
a not uncommon mispelling.
Direct URL:
http://ferrethealth.org/archive/
and look up
urine +spotting
prostate +spotting
prostate +urine
adrenal +prostate
adrenal +urine
in post content and words with
similar meanings.]
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