of up to 70%. The two adrenal glands are small oval shaped organs, which are present
in the abdomen, in front of each kidney. Adrenal disease is the result of adrenal tumors
and hyperplasia, which produce an excess of hormones (estrogen and testosterone). It
is this excess of hormones which result in the symptoms we see from this chronic,
debilitating disease.
There are many symptoms present in ferrets with adrenal disease. Of these
symptoms, there are three which are almost diagnostic when present alone or in
combination, including alopecia (hair loss), an enlarged vulva and return to male sexual
behavior (picture 1-3). Ferrets with one or more of these symptoms are almost certain
to have adrenal disease. Although the hair loss generally begins on the tail and base of
the tail, the tops of the rear feet and over the shoulder blades, it can occur anywhere on
the ferret’s body. An enlarged vulva occurs in about 50% of the female ferrets
afflicted with this disease. The vulva, located just below the anus, can become quite
large. Secondary urinary tract infections can occur as a result of the enlarged vulva due
to the pooling of urine. Return to male sexual behavior can occur in neutered male
ferrets as a result of elevated testosterone levels. This behavior can include trying to
mount a female spayed or another male ferret, or aggression toward other ferrets or
rarely toward people. Other symptoms, which occur as a result of this disease, include
lethargy, muscle loss, pruritis and straining to urinate (as a result of an enlarged
prostate due to elevated testosterone levels).
Diagnosis is made at surgery finding one or both enlarged adrenal glands. A adrenal
profile (University of Tenn., School of Veterinary Medicine), which includes three
different hormone levels, are frequently elevated. Radiographic findings are usually
inconclusive and ultrasound can pick up the enlarged adrenals in about 50% of the
cases.
The treatment of choice for this condition is surgery, removing the abnormal adrenal(s).
This surgery particularly when the right adrenal gland is involved is technically difficult,
since the right adrenal gland normally is attached to the vena cava (the largest vein in
the body). Right adrenal tumors, as a result, are difficult to completely remove and can
be associated with postoperative bleeding.
Cryosurgery is the freezing of tissue with liquid nitrogen, intending to kill the cells,
which are frozen. Cryosurgery has been used, in human medicine, for decades for the
removal of skin tumors, and has been used more recently to destroy many other
tumors including tumors of the liver, breast, prostate and adrenal. One of the many
potential benefits of cryosurgery (table 1) is decreased bleeding, less intraoperative
time, a quicker recovery and a technically easier procedure. Cryosurgery has been
shown to be very safe, even when used on tumors adjacent to large vessels.
I have used cryosurgery to treat over 35 cases, with excellent results. Since I have
performed hundreds of traditional adrenalectomies, it is easy for me to already see the
tremendous advantages of cryosurgery, particularly when the right adrenal gland is
involved. This new technique offers the ferret surgeon many potential advantages over
traditional adrenalectomy, and may someday be the technique of choice to treat
adrenal tumors in the future. Studies are currently underway to compare adrenal
cryosurgery and traditional adrenalectomy in the ferret with adrenal disease.
For more information on this new exciting technique contact Dr Weiss. For a detailed,
step-by-step video on this new procedure and other common ferret surgeries, contact
Ferret Video Productions, PO Box 59510, Potomac, MD 20859 or fax (301)
349-3997.
TABLE 1
POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF ADRENAL CRYOSURGERY
1. Significantly less bleeding postoperatively
2. Quicker recovery time
3. More likely to completely destroy right adrenal tumors
4. Shorter operative time
5. Technically easier procedure for surgeon
Click on photos to see a larger version of each
Alopecia in a ferret with adrenal
disease.
Swollen Vulva
Photo 1 - A picture of a right adrenal
tumor. The tumor is surrounded by
fat.
Photo 2 - Same tumor as in photo 3.
Clamps are holding fat on either side
of the adrenal gland.
Adrenal Cryosurgery on the same
tumor as in photo 1&2. Cryosurgery is
safe around large blood vessels
Web site by: mjanke@miamiferret.org
Copyright 1999. All Rights Reserved
This page was updated on 10/15/99