Clinical outcomes of 48 pet ferrets with adrenal disease

Abstract

Medical records of 48 pet ferrets that underwent adrenalectomy were retrospectively reviewed to investigate the frequency and clinical outcomes of adrenal diseases in pet ferrets. These diseases were most commonly diagnosed in ferrets aged 3 to 5 years and in neutered females (58.3%). Adrenal disease occurred most frequently in the left adrenal gland (72.9%), followed by involvement of both adrenal glands (16.7%) and the right adrenal gland (10.4%). The mean sizes (length * thickness) of the adrenal glands as determined by ultrasonography were 8.96 * 5.08 mm and 12.91 * 8.26 mm for the left and right adrenal glands, respectively. In the ferrets with adrenal disease, alopecia (82.2%) was the main presenting clinical signs in both sexes, and vulvar swelling was seen in 32.1% of the females with adrenal disease. The common incidental findings included renal cysts (29.2%) and splenomegaly (25.0%). Histological findings showed pheochromocytoma, adenoma, and hyperplasia in 44.7%, 14.9%, and 12.8% of cases, respectively. The survival rates at 1- and 2- years after surgery were 87.5% and 74.0%, respectively. Alopecia and vulvar swelling improved within an average of 3.4 months and 12 days after surgery.