ferret white growth protruding from female parts

Question
our ferret has a white growth protruding from her fefmale parts. i tried to see if it would pull off and it started bleeding. what could this be?

Answer
Hello Martha,

How old is your little girl?  Does the entire area seem swollen and red?

These questions may help clarify a few things although several things come to mind:

In a younger ferret, there is the possibility that not all of the reproductive tissue was removed during her spay and she could be going into a false heat cycle. The vulva generally appears swollen and irritated.  In older ferrets, one possibility is adrenal disease.  One of the symptoms in females is a false heat cycle, since there is an overproduction of the hormone estrogen.  Also look out for hair-loss on the back/rump (a common symptom), aggressiveness, weight loss and lethargy.   

Adrenal Disease:
http://www.ferretcentral.org/faq/med/adrenal.html
http://www.ferret-universe.com/health/adrenal.asp

It could also be a generalized infection of the area or a growth.  A culture/swabbing of the area sent out for analysis by your veterinarian would determine if infection is cause.  

Regardless, you should have her evaluated by your vet ASAP.  Female ferrets can get something called aplastic anemia.  An unspayed female (or one with a portion of retained uterus) who is not bred can develop this condition from the prolonged release of estrogen, and it can be fatal.  "Aplastic anemia in ferrets refers to bone marrow suppression, resulting in a complete loss of red blood cells in the bone marrow. If an unsterilized female comes into heat, she will stay in heat indefinitely and during this period, her estrogen levels will remain high and be very toxic to her bone marrow. This can be fatal to your ferret."

Taken from:
http://www.all-about-ferrets.com/aplastic-anemia-in-ferrets.html

I am hoping it is just a generalized infection that can be cleared up with some antibiotics, but only your veterinarian would be able to give you a diagnosis.  Please let me know if you have any other questions!  I will be wondering how she is doing, so please keep me updated.

-Cindy P.