Green slime disease, green diarrhea disease
Overview:
There are not many infectious causes of gastrointestinal disease in pet ferrets. However, epizootic catarrhal enteritis, or ECE, has become common in certain areas of the United States since 1993. Because ECE has appeared so recently, very little information has been published about the illness, which is sometimes called "green slime disease" due to the green-colored diarrhea that infected animals often produce.
Cushing's disease of ferrets
Overview:
Adrenal gland disease is a common problem in middle-aged to older ferrets. The disease results in one or both of the adrenal glands producing abnormal amounts of the androgens and/or estrogens, which are the male and female sex hormones. This disease can cause hair loss, itching, vulvar enlargement in females, and in rare cases, severe anemia and urinary blockage.
Because adrenal gland disease can be difficult to diagnose through routine bloodwork, it is often necessary to do specialized blood tests and ultrasound examination of the abdomen to diagnose adrenal disease. Physical exam findings and clinical signs often will lead to a suspicion of adrenal gland disease. Although clinical signs such as itching and hair loss are not life threatening, a ferret's quality of life is impacted and, on rare occasions, the disease can lead to more serious complications. Treatment is best accomplished by surgery, although medical treatment is also possible.