Ferret endocrine disease

Question 1

What age group tend to get hyperadrenocorticism?

Answer 1

Middle aged - old

Question 2

Is hyperadrenocorticism in the ferret generally PDH or ADH

Answer 2

ADH marked adrenomegaly

Normal pituitary gland

Question 3

With the marked adrenomegaly seen in ferrets with HAC, what proportion are unilateral vs bilateral?

Answer 3

85% unilateral

15% bilateral

Question 4

What is the cause of the enlargement of the adrenal glands?

Answer 4

Hyperplasia,
Adenoma
Adenocarcinoma

Question 5

Why is neutering/early neutering associated with HAC in ferrets?

Answer 5

neutering results in greater levels of GnRH and therefore increased LH and FSH
Secondary over expression in the adrenal cortex of LH receptors

Question 6

What are the clinical signs/history of ferrets with HAC?

Answer 6

Symmetrical alopecia, usually starting in the spring
Vulval enlargement, return of sexual behaviour in hobs
Pruritis
More severe cases: urethral obstruction (hobs), gynecomastia/mammary neoplasia (jills)

Question 7

What clinpath findings would you expect in ferrets with HAC?

Answer 7

no haematology/biochem changes

all normal

Question 8

What radiographic findings would you expect in ferrets with HAC?

Answer 8

None, generally normal

Question 9

What ultrasound findings would you expect in ferrets with HAC?

Answer 9

Enlarged adrenal gland, generally other gland normal but may be bilateral enlargement

Question 10

What hormones would you expect to be elevated?

Answer 10

Androstenedione
dehydroepiandrosterone
17-hydroxyprogesterone
estrodiol

Question 11

How do you treat HAC in ferrets?

Answer 11

Surgical removal (generally unilateral) probably most reliable and best option
Mitotane
Ketoconazole
Trilostane

Question 12

How could you potentially prevent/decrease the risk of HAC in ferrets?

Answer 12

Consider GnRH agonist implant rather than neutering

or Deslorelin