Is it Rat Tail? or Adrenal? Or something else!?

[Erica]

Here are some pictures of our baby, Stitch. I have mentioned before that she was losing hair on her tail. I decided to take some pictures so you all could see what I am seeing. I really have no idea if it is rat tail or if she could be adrenal.

As you can see here, the middle of her tail is completely bald. Not sure if you can see, but there are the little blackheads.



It's kind of blurry, but the very tip of her tail still has alot of hair. She looks like a little lion!



In this one, you can see the base of her tail where it meets her body. There is absolutely no hair loss what so ever here. And no hair loss on her lower back and butt.



She has always been a skinny ferret. We can feel her little bones and ribs. She eats like a horse. All the time. And we give her ferret vite. She is very active, so we think that's why she is so skinny. Here you can see her entire body.



No hair loss on belly or legs either.


A closer view of her belly.



So as you can see, I'm very confused. She's active, sleeps well, eats well, pees and poops normally. We have been washing her tail with acne treatment and blackhead treatment, but with no result.

PLEASE HELP!!

[Dar24]

I will just tell you my experience with Kahlua...This past summer she lost hair off her tail too..It was just from the tip to a third of the way up her tail... I tried all the washing and treatments with no difference..Then when she shed for winter she grew all the hair back..

Unfortunately a month later then she started losing hair between her front legs then next off the top of her back legs..When I noticed a patch of baldness on her back I took her to the vet..She was diagnosed with Adrenal disease in it's early stages...

I have heard of rat tail..I have been told the hair comes back after a shed..Don't know how true that is..But Kahlua's did come back...But in my instance it was probably the first sign of impending Adrenal disease..Kahlua's fur was also very wirey and rough...Now that she had her lupron shot she is much softer and her fur is so much thicker already..

My advice is just keep an eye out for hair loss elsewhere on her body..That will be a sure sign that she is probably adrenal..

Goodluck hope it's just a bald tail..lol

[Deleted]

it looks like rats tail to me often with darker ferrets its hard to see the the black heads i normally just let nature take its course and when the new growth comes in it pushes out the oil in the clogged pores ( constant washing makes them produce more ) the older the ferret the longer the rats tail lasts and some dark coloured ferrets shed in patches I have acouple who always shed there knees first lol it looks like a vet ahs taken a razor and shaved a perfect line on each leg for a needle when that grows back they do the patch thing on the back legs lol take care bye for now
crazy lady

[huronna]

Right now it does look like rat tail, but I would definitely keep an eye out in the future for any body hair loss

[greta]

Both Nada and Cinco lost hair on their tails as they aged. The first time it happened with Cinco I took him to the vet for a melatonin implant. Within two weeks Cinco's tail hair began growing back and he developed a very lush and thick fur coat all over his body. This wasn't adrenal, as Cinco lived at least 3 years beyond the time he had the implant. Now I've noticed Itty's little tail getting thinner from hair loss. But after her last shed, her tail filled right out again. Hugs, Greta

[Erica]

So you think maybe she has just shed and it will come back? I mean she's only 2 years old. So she isn't too old.

[Deleted]

They shed twice per year spring and fall ( some ferrets get the seasons confused and shed at wierd times ) hope this helps take care bye for now
crazy lady

[mysticalmanana]

I have only had experience with adrenal hairloss and if it is that it will most likely progress up the tummy and the back flanks. Both times it was rather quick within a couple of weeks that the hair fell out.
Just looking at it to me it looks like rat tail and should fill in next shed, if not I guess its time to see the vet for a checkup.
Asia was adrenal at 6 months old at least thats when we noticed it but I think thats fairly rare thank goodness but her hair loss was all over the board, all her feet were naked and she lost a silver dollar size spot on top of her head as well as the usual adrenal hairloss pattern.She also gained over a pound and had the big adrenal belly.
I hope thats not what your baby has but its good to be aware of what to watch for.

[Deleted]

my san had a fantastic case of rat tail. looked just like your baby. was like that for a good 6 months. but all of a sudden it grew back! she was just at vets too and got a clean bill of health. shes just as tiny. only weighs 1.4 pounds.

[linkie2001]

Erica, It looks like a rat tail to me also ... My ferrets have had the most strange
shedding period this year, IMO it will all grow back soon