ABSTRACT
Endocrine diseases are among the most commonly seen conditions in ferrets. Insulinomas (or islet cell tumours) and adrenocortical tumours constitute the majority of the endocrine diseases, seen predominantly in middle-aged to older ferrets, although they may occasionally be seen in younger ferrets as well. Other endocrine disorders that may be encountered in ferrets include persistent oestrus, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. Of the endocrine diseases described in companion animals, the following have not been documented in ferrets: growth hormone deciency or growth hormone excess, diabetes insipidus, hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism and spontaneous hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s disease). Despite the lack of reported cases, the above mentioned differentials should not be ruled out, and further diagnostic work-up for such diseases is warranted when confronted with a ferret with clinical signs corresponding to symptoms seen in dogs and/or cats with the aforementioned endocrine diseases.
