WHAT IS ADDISON'S DISEASE?

Addison's disease is a severe or total deficiency of the hormones made in the adrenal cortex, caused by a destruction of the adrenal cortex. In ferrets, this is typically due to 100% removal of both adrenal glands during one or more surgeries to correct adrenal disease.  This can also be caused by adrenal glands that have been totally replaced by a large neoplasm (extremely rare) or an overdosage of Lysodren. Lysodren is a drug that was commonly used in ferrets with adrenal disease but has been replaced by better methods in recent years.

If a ferret has no adrenal tissue left after surgery and is not supported with the proper drugs, within 2 to 3 days the ferret will be in what is called an Addisonian crisis. In an Addisonian crisis, the blood sodium will be markedly decreased from its normal level  and potassium levels will increase to try to maintain electroneutrality of the blood. The signs of Addisonian crises are lethargy, anorexia, weakness, inability to walk, progressing to seizures, coma and death.

Ferrets in an Addisonian crisis are in a life or death situation and emergency treatment is crucial.  Treatment cannot wait until the next morning. Administration of synthetic mineralocorticoids can re-establish normal parameters, but they must be done quickly after diagnosis.

The usual drugs that are used to maintain ferrets that have no adrenal glands are Percorten or Florinef and Prednisone.