Clinical aspects and surgical treatment of hyperadrenocorticism in the domestic ferret: 94 cases (1994-1996)

Abstract

The signalment, clinical findings, laboratory values, and histopathological results of 96 ferrets with signs (i.e., bilaterally symmetrical alopecia, return to male sexual behavior, or an enlarged vulva) suggestive of hyperadrenocorticism were evaluated retrospectively. Of these 96 ferrets, 94 (98%) were diagnosed with hyperadrenocorticism histologically. Treatment consisted of unilateral adrenalectomy for unilateral tumors (84%) and subtotal bilateral adrenalectomy for bilateral adrenal tumors (16%). The histopathological diagnosis included nodular hyperplasia (56%), adrenocortical carcinoma (26%), and adrenocortical adenoma (16%). Common concurrent diseases included splenomegaly (87%), islet-cell tumor (27%), and cardiomyopathy (10%).