How common for ferret to have adrenal disease?

Question

is it common for a ferret under the age of one to develope adrenal disease i know they can when older....

Answer 1

No it is not common. They usually will develop it at a MINIMUM of 2 years old. Usually around 4 though.

Answer 2

It's most common in ferrets three and over, but it can strike ferrets as young as two. Under a year old, I doubt it's adrenal related. Some ferrets do lose most and sometimes all of the hair on their tail during seasonal coat changes and then it all grows back in at the next coat change. It's a condition known as "rat tail." I have two that this happened to last year around this time and it appears to be starting again. The one was actually tested for adrenal the other week and I'm still waiting for the results of the test. All of the hair grew back on both of their tails during the last coat change, but the one I'm having tested for adrenal did not regrow hair around the base of her tail, so I decided to have her tested (she's 2.5 years old now). I did notice with the other ferret that he also had a lot of blackheads on his tail (when I looked closer at my female's tail, I noticed a couple, tiny blackheads on her tail as well). Are you noticing any blackheads on your ferret's tail? Ferrets are prone to blackheads on the tail and it can cause hair loss. It doesn't look very attractive, but it's really nothing to worry about. It can be treated with a gentle cleanser containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid (check with your vet for a safe cleanser to use). Use the cleanser to wash the tail (and *only* the tail) every couple of days - let the cleanser sit for a minute or two before rinsing. Even if you aren't noticing blackheads, it could just be a seasonal thing and a case of "rat tail." It could also be stress related. Has anything changed suddenly in your ferret's life? If you're really concerned, give your vet a call and ask him/her what he/she thinks.