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Cancers and Tumors
Adrenal Disease
Adrenal tumors are one of the most common
types of tumors found in ferrets. A ferret has two adrenal
glands, which are located on top of each kidney. The adrenal
gland produces important hormones that regulate important
bodily functions. Most notably, they produce adrenaline.
When a tumor is growing in the adrenal gland, it causes
overproduction of the hormones produced by the gland. This
is called hyperadrenalcorticism. The most common symptom
of adrenal disease is pattern hairloss, usually starting
from the base of the tail and moving up the torso. Other
symptoms are swollen vulva (in females), sexual aggression
(in males), itching, and difficulty urinating (in extreme
cases in males, secondary to prostate problems). Less visible
symptoms are enlarged prostate, enlarged spleen, and anemia.
There is a blood test that can evaluate the levels of certain hormones in the blood that is available from the University of Tennessee, but most often a diagnosis can be made based on symptoms alone.
The causes of adrenal disease are not known for sure. However, many respected ferret veterinarians have suggested that the main causes are likely to be the early spay/neuter of ferrets at 6 weeks of age or less, and exposure to extended photoperiods. Some veterinarians and researchers suggest that the early spay/neuter prevents the ferret from developing properly and disrupts their hormonal balance and thus directly affecting the adrenal glands. Extended photoperiods (long light-cycles) is also thought to be a possible cause of adrenal disease. Ferrets bodies go through an annual cycle that 'in the wild' would be based on available light. There is a normal progression from longer days to shorter days and back again. Even so, in our homes ferrets are exposed to irregular light cycles and often up to 18 hour periods or longer where they are exposed to either natural or unnatural light. Many ferret owners try to limit the unnatural light that their fuzzies are exposed to by only allowing natural light from windows during daylight hours. Neither of these suggested causes of adrenal disease have been scientifically proven, but as ferret owners we should be aware of the possible causes of these terrible disease.
The only cure for adrenal disease is surgery. Surgical removal of the affected gland(s) is the best option for the ferret given no other complicating health problems. The left adrenal gland is easier for a surgeon to remove than the right, but with the right skilled surgeon you should never be told that it is impossible to remove a right gland. After the gland is removed, your ferret should be up and back to his old self in no time. If both glands are removed, it is a little trickier because the other gland isn't around to pick up the slack. You might have to watch for a 'crash' where it seems like your ferret has lost all energy. This is usually caused by the sudden removal of the electrolyte-regulator (the adrenal gland) and the loss of all adrenaline. Some ferrets have enough ectopic tissue remaining to function just fine, while other require medicine to replace what has been lost.
There is also the non-surgical option of treating with Lupron. This drug will help with symptoms associated with adrenal disease, but will not affect the tumor itself. This is extremely useful if you have a male ferret that is having prostate problems due to adrenal disease. Lupron can be used to help shrink the prostate back to normal size and aid in hair regrowth. It is important to remember that even if you ferret grows back its hair, the tumor is still inside and surgery is the only option for getting rid of the tumor.
Insulinoma
We all know that diabetes in ferrets (as in people) is the effect of too little insulin being made by the pancreas. The body can not then utilize any glucose that is introduced to the body causing blood sugar levels to soar to dangerously high levels. Insulinoma is exactly the opposite condition. Tumors develop in the insulin-secreting cells inside the pancreas. These tumors then begin to produce insulin in such large amounts that it utilizes glucose in the body too quickly, causing blood sugar levels to dive incredibly low. Generally insulinoma strikes ferrets who are five years old or more, however it has been seen in ferrets as young as 2 years old. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common illnesses seen in ferrets along with adrenal gland disease (see adrenal gland disease ) and it can go undetected for a surprisingly long period of time after onset. Be aware that symptoms may seem to come and go causing the length of time that some ferrets are taken to a vet to become prolonged. Early detection certainly can make a difference in the prognosis of this disease so know the signs to watch for. Some of these signs include weakness, salivation, pawing at the mouth (indicative of nausea) a far away look or general fogginess, sores in the mouth, lethargy, tremors, loss of coordination, vomiting and weight loss. As the disease progresses, other symptoms, such as seizures, rear end weakness or paralysis, and comas become more common.
Ferret blood glucose levels are in the mean range at about 90 - 125 after 4-6 hours of fasting, but the range can be anywhere from 65 - 164. Having a fasting blood glucose under 70 is suspicious and a reading under 60 is generally enough for a vet to confirm the presence of insulinoma though x-rays, ultrasounds or exploratory surgery may be helpful. Fasting prior to the test allows a more consistent reading thus giving the doctor an increased ability to determine the right treatment. After a treatment is determined to be working, the ferret should not fast for the full 4 hours prior to a glucose test, as that may be dangerous for the ferret.
Treatment for insulinoma is generally surgical although this may not be an option for all cases. Sometimes the insulinomas may occur as one tumor and other times they have formed small nodules that are numerous and throughout the pancreas. If the tumor has formed one tumor, it should be removed if possible. If the tumor has formed many nodules, vets generally remove a small portion of the pancreas in an effort to remove the majority of the nodules. Most of the time the surgeries produce exactly the desired effect, the ferret is weaned off all medication and remains medication free for extended periods of time with the tumors in check. In the few cases that surgery is not possible or the effect of the surgery was not what was hoped for, management of the symptoms with the use of Prednisone (or Prednisolone) is possible. Prednisone, or Pred as it is commonly referred to, will increase the blood sugar levels in the body and works well initially at controlling symptoms. It is relatively inexpensive and there are few side effects from this corticosteroid. You can purchase Pred from your local pharmacy with a prescription usually more inexpensively than you can from your vet. If you get your Pred from anywhere other than the vet's office, be sure that you do not get a generic version, as it may contain alcohol and that the pharmacist knows that this prescription is for a small animal so that the dosage information is correct.
There are many other tips to consider if your ferret has insulinoma such as increasing the animal protein in their diet. High protein meals help to stabilize the blood glucose if fed on a regular basis. Pureed chicken or meat only baby food are great sources of protein. You may need to add a LITTLE Ferretone to the mix just until the ferret gets used to the meat. Another tip is to keep Karo Syrup on hand. If a ferret with insulinoma has a seizure, can't use it's back legs or collapses, immediately apply Karo Syrup to their gums with a Q-tip (to avoid an accidental bite) and wait for the ferret to perk up. Immediately feed your fuzzy a high protein meal to help stabilize the blood glucose. You have heard the saying "what goes up must come down"? Well, blood glucose levels are no exception. After spiking from the Karo Syrup, the blood glucose levels have a tendency to crash and a meal high in protein will help prevent that crash. Once the ferret appears relatively stable contact your vet or local emergency clinic for further instructions. Work closely with your vet and try to stick to the medical regime that has been set for you and your fuzzy, however, do your own research, become informed and ask questions. With a good cooperative, working relationship between you, your vet and your fuzzy, your fuzzy could well expect to live a normal life span depending on the age of onset.
Lymphosarcoma
Lymphosarcoma, a.k.a. lymphoma, is cancer of the lymph nodes or lymphatic system. This type of cancer is all too common in ferrets. There are two types of lymphosarcoma. Juvenile Lymphosarcoma generally affects ferrets under a year of age and is usually devastatingly quick in progression. Classic Lymphosarcoma can affect a ferret of any age, but is most commonly found in older ferrets.
Juvenile lymphosarcoma usually comes on very quickly and sadly, is often diagnosed after death. The tumors grow so fast that they invade most of the major organs and the body just cannot function any longer.
The first signs on classic lymphosarcoma are usually enlarged lymph nodes in the armpits and on the sides of the neck. These lymph nodes can also be enlarged due to fatty deposits, especially in overweight ferrets, so it is best to have your vet check them out if you are concerned.
Unfortunately there is no guaranteed cure for lymphosarcoma. Surgery is not an option because the cancer is usually present throughout the entire lymph system in some stage. There is a chemotherapy treatment for lymphosarcoma which some ferrets respond to very well. It is very expensive and the response rate is not very high in ferrets. You should talk with your vet to decide if this is an alternative that you wish to engage in. Alternatively, some ferrets respond well and have many more months and even years when put on a steroid treatment to slow the growth of the tumors and reduce inflammation.
Chordomas
A chordoma is a growth that is usually found at the tip of the ferret's tail. They resemble a club at the end of the tail. They are most commonly found in ferrets that are at least 3 years old. The best treatment for this is surgical removal, which requires amputation of that part of the tail. Ferrets recover quickly after this procedure and don't seem to notice the amputation.
Cervical/spinal chordomas can also be found between the vertebra near the head. This is more serious and can cause spinal cord compression and lead to paralysis. This type of chordoma can't be surgically removed.
Mast Cell / Basal Cell Tumors
There are three main types of skin tumors seen in ferrets, mast cell tumors, basal cell tumors and sebaceous cell tumors. Skin tumors are very common in ferrets and the risk of development increases with age. The majority of skin tumors in ferrets are benign, however it is important to consult a veterinarian so that no malignant tumors are left untreated. There is some controversy about which of the skin tumors is the most frequently seen in vet clinics, the basal cell tumor or the mast cell tumor. Fortunately, neither of these tumors have the tendency to be malignant. Basal cell tumors are generally slow-growing, wart-like growths that have a dimple in the center. These tumors do not infect any of the tissue or organs beneath the skin and are generally easily removed. It is recommended that these tumors be removed if possible as they are easily scratched, opening them up to infection. Mast cell tumors appear very differently than basal cell tumors. Mast cell tumors are generally round in shape and are barely raised patches that may be crusty in appearance. Mast cells are actually cells that are supposed to help fend off invaders (any foreign substances) that enter the body. One of the jobs of this cell is to release histamines and other chemicals around the invader. This causes the invader to be marked for destruction and the spot where the histamines are released to became inflamed and ITCHY. No one knows for sure why these cells will gather and grow abnormally in ferrets, however it happens frequently. Again the best treatment for this type of tumor is surgery as long as the risk of infection from scratching posses more of a threat than the surgery itself. Please note that many vets who have not had ferret experience may offer a poor prognosis with the diagnosis of a mast cell tumor as this type of tumor does not offer other animals much hope. This is not the case with ferrets and it is important to educate your vet about the differences.
