My Ferret basically lost his whole fur coat on his torso within the past two months. Also he scratches every five seconds, and I'm actually sorta starting to worry.
So basically I want to ask if it's normal for ferrets to loose their hair. It's fall and I read that Ferrets should be gaining their winter coat, rather than loose it. Will he gain it back?
A ferret that looses his hair like that is almost certain to have adrenal disease. ADRENAL DISEASE IS NOT A SKIN CONDITION It is believed to be a result of the baby ferrets being spayed or neutered before they are even 6 weeks old. If any animal is spayed or neutered before they reach sexual maturity there can be serious consequences. Marshall's ferrets are surgically altered, recovered from that surgery, fur grown back and in pet stores by the time they are 6 weeks old-think about it.
The brain does not recognize that they have been spayed or neutered. Asimple explaination is that the hormones have no where to go and end up doing damage to the adrenal gland. It could be cancerous or something called hyperplasia.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Adrenal disease can cause them to be itchy, too. There are several things that you can do, there are pros and cons to both.
1-Surgery to remove the adrenal gland-very expensive and ferret coud die on the operating table.
Does not always cure the problem permanently as there are 2 adrenal glands.
2-Lupron injections-Can be very effective nit as expensive as surgery, but need to keep up with shots every one to 3 months even if fur grows back, the disease is still there.
3-new on the market-Suprelorin implants-these are more expensive than lupron, but have been very effective in treating adrenal disease. They have not been approved in the US yet, but can still be obtained and used. Appear to be a good option.
Although the fur is the least of their problems it can grow back if treated. Not treating adrenal disease is not an option if you want your ferret to have a good quality of life. The fur is just one symptom Untreated it can lead to
males prostate enlarging and not being able to urinate. A very painful death.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
slight anemia in almost all ferrets with this
wasting away of muscle tissue.
aggression
ulcers from the stress of the many symptoms of the disease.
There are many more.
You need to find a ferret savy vet in your area.
here is a list of ferret shelters
http://www.supportourshelters.org/SOS-Sh ... find one in your area and see which vet they use.
If I can help you with anything let me know. I am listed as FERRET SANCTUARY 1 in Virginia Beach, Va on that list
I hope this helps
My contavt info is ferretsanctuary1@aol.com
757-463-8942
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pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
Ferrets are naturally very itchy animals. However, every 5 secs is not normal.
There is a very long list of what could be the causes of this, however I would say something such as a skin irritation or infection.
Keeping ferrets inside all year can cause illness like this too.
I'd suggest seeing a vet, do not bathe the ferret in any way. This will only make the problem worse.
Itching is normal loose of coat is not. Loosing his whole coat on the torso and keeping the fur on the head is indicative of adrenal disease. See your vet for a definitive diagnosis, treatment for adrenal disease is the surgical removal of the adrenal glands which many vets don't do. It can shorten the lifespan or cause other problems, but some animals never have other problems. It is up to you and your vet to decide how to proceed.
If it is adrenal disease no his coat won't grow back
He could have mites. He could have adrenal disease. Or he is just normally losing his fur (they do that in fall) and most ferrets are itchy. My ferrets will wake up suddenly and scratch like crazy. They have been treated for mites so that was ruled out. I looked it up and learned that its normal. I don't think every 5 seconds in normal though. I would bring him to a vet and have him treated for mites.
maybe, maybe not. Ferrets can get a skin condition. that results in losing their hair. don't remember what causes it. but if it's what I'm thinking of. it wont grow back.
