ferret advice

Question
QUESTION: my ferret is a six year old she has had goten very thin before her last poop was normal brown and watery she lives in a cage in my room she eats 8in1 preuim ferret food but she is very thin and her hair is falling out she dose not any synpots expcte those i need some food advice and why she dose that she after i gave her the new food in 10 days she lost all of her weight and she eats like a pig thank you

ANSWER: Hi Zach,

If she is losing her hair, that is generally a sign of something called adrenal gland disease, and that means there is probably a tumor on her adrenal gland. Here is a link to an article for more information:

http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/med/adrenal.html

The bottom line is, she should see a vet to get some blood work done to confirm the problem, and then your ferret vet can go over the options with you and your family for your little girl.

Here are some links for ferret vets around the world so I hope, in case you don't already have one, that you can find one in your area:

VETS CANADA:   
* http://www.ferretrescue.ca/start.php
* http://tinylink.com/?TlVyYKa6e0
* http://www.ferrets.org/Veterinarian_Listings.htm   (British Columbia)
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-vets.html
* http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/sask_ferrets/

VETS USA:
* http://www.quincyweb.net/quincy/vet.html
* http://ferrethealth.org/vets/
* http://www.ferret-universe.com/vets/vetlist.asp
* http://www.ferretsanctuary.com/vets.shtml
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-vets.html
* http://ferrethealth.org/vets/

VETS  UK & IRELAND:  
* http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ferreter/vetlist.htm

VET INFO/ LIST OF FERRET GROUPS/ CONTACTS IN UK, ITALY, NEW ZEALAND, AUSTRALIA, NETHERLANDS, GERMANY & DENMARK:       
* http://www.ferretcentral.org/for-others/db-overseas.html (scroll down page to find the one you are looking for).


I hope that she comes through everything okay and if you need anything else, please don't hesitate to ask!

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi thank you i took her to a vet back in may with the same sympotmes. also i have another ferret she is 4 years old but will not eat any advice?

Answer
Hi again Zach,

If you took her to a vet before with the same symptoms, what was the diagnosis? I really think another follow-up is the prudent thing to do in this situation, and I really think that maybe a check up is in order for your other little girl as a ferret not eating is almost always a serious problem. You should get her to a vet as soon as possible because ferrets can't go without food. You should try enticing her by adding lukewarm water to her food. That brings a little bit more of the smell out and that may get her to eat. You could also try drizzling some Ferretone on her food and that could get her to eat. You should make sure she is staying hydrated as well. Make sure she keeps drinking water. If you scruff her neck (gently) and the skin stays "tented" rather than snapping back, then that means dehydration and the only way to get her hydrated is to have sub-q fluids which is fluid delivered under the skin by a vet! If she stops eating and drinking, get her to a vet right away! That is a serious problem.

If you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

Sincerely,
Emilee Andrews