Adrenocortical Disease in Ferrets

Key Points

• Hyperadrenocorticism is a common and complex clinical condition of the pet ferret, seen most frequently in ferrets 3 years or older.
• The most common clinical sign of hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets is progressive alopecia of the tail, tail base and trunk.
• Vulvar enlargement may be seen in spayed females.
• Male ferrets may present with a history of stranguria or urinary tract obstruction due to prostatomegaly.
• Experienced ultrasonographers can detect adrenomegaly (width > 3-3.5 mm) or abnormal adrenal architecture.
• Most affected ferrets have elevated levels of estradiol, androstenedione, and/or 17α-hydroxyprogesterone.
• Surgical biopsy of the affected adrenal gland provides a definitive diagnosis, and surgical therapy is the treatment of choice for most ferrets. Geriatric ferrets or ferrets with other concurrent disease may not be good candidates for surgical therapy.
• Medical therapy is palliative and most frequently relies on a synthetic GnRH analogs:  leuprolide acetate in the USA) or deslorelin in Europe and Australia