My ferret had adrenal gland disease and is blad...?

Question

should i make him wear a sweater so he doesnt get cold??

Answer 1

Sorry to say it but if the fur has not returned your ferret still has adrenal disease. I'm assuming you had the adrenal glands surgically removed, if so then ask your vet to check cortisol levels, if your ferret's levels are normal then they still have adrenal tissue remaining. If all adrenal tissue was removed then your ferret will require monthly shots of Percorten or daily oral Florinef in order to keep them from going Addisonian.

When an adrenal surgery is successful and all affected tissue has been removed the fur will return within a fairly short period of time, you should start to see some new growth within the month though it can take a season for all fur to return. If the Vet only removed one gland then it's possible and likely the other gland needs to be removed or you need to start medical treatment (Lupron or Suprelorin).

As far as getting the ferret a sweater, in all of my advanced adrenals where they have lost fur only 2 actually wanted to wear something to stay warm and that was during the winter months. Most found it too stressful to wear clothing and the stress only adds to complications with the disease. Usually they preferred some really thick warm blankets and puttered around on carpeting more than their furry friends who liked hardwood and cold tile to help regulate their temperature.

Good luck and hopefully your vet can help you get this disease under control!

Answer 2

You are lucky you still have your little one.  When mine get adrenal, they don't lose all their hair but die around a year after diagnosis and surgery from liver or spleen disease.  

Ferrets with adrenal problems can sometimes regrow their hair. However, during the next cycle, it will all fall out, and usually more, and it's a toss up as to whether it will grow back. [Adrenal disease causes hormone imbalances which in turn cause the hair loss. The changing season also causes hormone changes, which can sometimes "balance out" the adrenal-associated ones and let the hair grow back for a while; but the underlying adrenal disorder is still there, and chances are good that the hair loss will come back again at the next coat change. Adrenal tissue has great regrowth capabilities. The high exposure to light and early spaying/neutering, seems have the most validity as a root cause. Ferrets have a very sensitive pineal gland, which in the natural state is stimulated by increased exposure to light. The pineal gland signals the reproductive tract to get ready for reproduction by sending a signal to the hypothalamus to produce GnRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) which stimulates the pituitary gland to release LH (Luteinizing Hormone) and FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) which triggers the gonads to secrete the s*x hormones.

For intact ferrets, the surge in LH signals the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to stop producing the hormones. In a spayed or neutered state, the adrenal glands receive the hormones and respond by producing the s*x hormones, but as they lack gonads, the LH surge cannot be produced to stop the hormone production from the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. As a result the hormones remain in an on state and are continually producing hormones which can cause the adrenal glands to enlarge. Even when the gland is removed, you still have the hormone secreting action going on.

I don't know where you live but here the weather is still really warm so I would say no to the sweater.  I can never get mine to wear clothes anyways, they just wiggle out and leave the clothes all over the house.  I know when I get a ferret who is adrenal, they are really warm to the touch.  Even the vet noticed it and had to take the temperature twice to make sure there was no fever. I tried to tell her they are warmer than my other ferrets.  sheez

I hope that your ferret gets his coat back by the time winter hits but even then, the warm blankets in his cage and the ambient temperature of your home should be just the right amount of heat to keep him comfortable.  

Adrenal disease is so debilitating for the ferret.  It is not just the cosmetic loss of hair, they also lose huge amount of muscle and energy.  I wish you and your little one the best.  

Answer 3

I lost a ferret to adrenal complications.  When it was cold outside I would have him wear a little shirt.  He would play around in the grass with it on.  Without it on he would shiver and not be interested.  Of course it depends on the temperature and the ferret!

Answer 4

See an exotic animal vet about it. I suggest that you keep it away from the sun as much as possible, and keep it away from light as much as possible. You should have the surgery to treat it, and cure your ferret, which went back to the vet. If you feel your ferret should wear a sweater, and if he isn't bothered by it, than put one on him.

Answer 5

"Had" adrenal disease?  Adrenal disease doesn't tend to "go away".  You either treat it with monthly Lupron injections to slow the growth of the tumor or your ferret has surgery to remove the affected gland.  Has your ferret had surgery?  If so and it truly doesn't have the disease anymore it's fur would most likely be growing back.