Discuss – Always seek the advice of your physician before undergoing a hair loss treatment regime.

Please note that the author is not a veterinarian. Please consult your vet for any medical advice about your pet.

Growing up, a sense of wonder at nature and a love for animals was instilled in us. A normal weekend was spent at Elachee Nature Center in Oakwood, GA learning about the climate that controlled Georgia’s agriculture and natural resources. This normally went into detail about animals as well as the plants that naturally supported such wildlife. This inbred fascination with nature was also reflected in our home. My brother, sister, and I all had numerous books on wild animals and we loved to watch The Discovery Channel. My mom brought it on herself that we tended to bring home and love animals. By the time I had moved out, my family had two birds, two turtles, numerous white mice and hamsters, and one very rowdy little dog. After I moved out, I collected a couple of cats and a couple of very rowdy large dogs.

Discuss – Drugs or Supplements: The most common drug treatment that causes hair loss is Chemotherapy. This kind of medication attacks the hair cells of the matrix causing 90% hair loss from the scalp.

The most recent addition to the family is Hannah, the dwarf hamster. My brother, Bob, brought her home in late 2003 and my mom quickly became enamored with her. Mom has been known to get Hannah out of her cage in the middle of the night to play and feed her almonds in the kitchen while she gets ready for work.

Early in 2005, Hannah began to develop bald spots under her chin and across her body. My mom would often talk about how it worried her during our weekly conversations, but I hadn’t realized how far spread it was until I woke Hannah up one Sunday afternoon. She climbed up against the walls of her plexiglass hamster-haven and I realized that she had lost most of the hair on her stomach in a patch that stretched from her right arm to her right leg. Her little pink skin showed through clear as day, and I got her out for a closer look. She didn’t exhibit any bumps or discomfort as I probed her, although she was a little irritated that I was bringing her out without the offer of a tasty treat. I gave her a hamster treat and set her back down in her little home.

Discuss – Hormonal imbalances are a major cause of hair loss. If your thyroid glands are overactive or less active then problems related to hair loss may occur.

Then, I decided it was time for an internet search. Little Hannah needed some help, and I didn’t want to pay a vet to tell me she was just getting old. I researched

Discuss – The old theory was that the male hormone, testosterone, is converted to another hormone called dihydrotestosterone, that causes hair to grow darker and longer on the bodies, faces and sides of the head of men. Dihydrotestosterone also causes male pattern baldness by making hair on the top of the head thinner, lighter and shorter so you can’t see it.

Ferrets have a sleek silky coat of hair that is moderately thick and should have a lustrous shine. Like most animals they shed their hair during spring or summer. This should result in a bit of a thinner coat in the warmer months with thicker hair growing in for winter.

While some hair loss is normal for ferrets, excessive shedding can be the sign of serious illness so if you are unsure of whether your ferret is losing his hair in a natural manner or not, you should seriously consider taking him to the vet. Your vet can help you to determine if the hair loss is something to worry about or they can tell you what you should look at in order to insure that it is okay.

Discuss – The myth – Some ethnic groups are less prone to experience hair loss.

If your ferret does have a lot of hair loss or the hair that he has lost does not grow back this is cause for concern. If you notice hair loss that begins at the base of the tail and gradually spreading upward this is also cause for concern. The most common problem which causes ferret hair loss is an adrenal tumor, a problem that affects over 75 percent of ferrets over the age of 4.

An adrenal tumor is a serious problem, but if your ferret is still young and healthy he may be a good candidate for surgery. During this surgery one of the adrenal glands (the affected one) is removed and this surgery is not terribly difficult but since ferrets are so small, any type of surgery can be risky. If it is determined that your pet does need this surgery, you might want to make sure to take him to someone who has performed it many times.

Discuss – Propecia – For a good reason, Propecia is the most popular hairloss remedy. Propecia is the first hairloss remedy to be approved by the FDA.

Most ferrets do well after this type of surgery, although there is about a 10 percent chance of post operative mortality. If your ferret does survive and the disease was confined to the gland that was removed the hair loss and other symptoms will stop but he may need to take medication for the rest of his life.

In some cases, surgery cannot be performed due to the location of the tumor. Ferrets that are not good candidates for surgery need to be put on medication to help keep the disease in check.

Discuss – Excessive salt intake can encourage hair loss because of its tendency to accumulate in tissue.

Hair loss is not the only problem caused by an adrenal tumor. If left untreated, your ferret can become lethargic, lose his appetite and suffer damage of his other organs – all things which can take away his zest for life and lead to an untimely death.

It should be noted that not all adrenal tumors cause hair loss in ferrets and not all hair loss is caused by adrenal tumors so it is critical to get your ferret to the vet if you notice any strange hair loss patterns. Your vet will be able to properly diagnose the problem so that you can get the right treatment for your pet.

Lee Dobbins writes for ferrets.pet-breeds.com where you can find more great articles about ferrets.