Prevent adrenal gland disease in ferrets?

Question

I'm thinking about getting a ferret once i get 1600 dollars (600 for the ferret and assessories, 1000 for emergencies), and know enough; which probably won't be for a lonnng time. but anyways, i was wondering if there was any way to prevent adrenal gland disease, and any other common diseases? what are the odds of my ferret getting adrenal, or any other disease? reason i'm asking is not for cost, but i get very attatched to my pets. When my one dog died, i was miserable for about a month or 2 i'd say. i was only 6 at the time, but still... Also, what would be best, a male or a female? it probably be a marshall farm's. =/ i hear the male's have less of a rate getting adrenal, ect.?

P.S. i've heard about the keeping them in complete dark at night and regular light during the day thing (how many hours of dark and light if this works?), but i read something about a shot that prevents it, or something, it began with an "L"..Lupron maybe? something like that..

Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

There are a number of theories regarding the high incidence of adrenal disease including the over abundance of light, inbreeding, early spaying/neutering practices, diet, etc., but none have been proven to date. The best thing you can do for your ferret, is to use sun blocking shades in their room, and keep lights to a bare minimum. It is recommended that you have routine Adrenal Panels runs to possibly detect the disease in it's early stages (before signs and symptoms), providing you with more treatment options.

Oh and lupron is a shot for treatment not pervention.

Answer 2

Ok, so you CAN'T prevent adrenal disease or any of the other common problem such as insulinoma etc. However you can reduce the risk of the ferret getting them--basically don't buy a Marshall farms ferret. Get one from a responsible breeder who has a guarantee. Marshall farms ferrets are inbred and have a genetic predisposition to getting the diseases. I had two ferrets from them when I got started. Both had many problems with that sort of thing and I sadly lost at 4yr and the other at 6yr. I learned while I owned them that the rate of privately bred ferrets getting those same diseases was dramatically lower. I've never gotten a Marshall ferret again. Yes, the breeders are more expensive, but they will save you money in the long run. Male or female doesn't matter as they all end up with something when they come from the ferret mill. If that's all you have access to then you'll just have to be prepared.

Just make sure your ferret gets plenty of dark time. : ) I wouldn't worry about exact amounts of hours of light and dark.