Recovery from Diabetes by Subtotal Removal of Both Adrenal Glands in a Ferret

Abstract

A ferret with a two-month history of bilateral alopecia and prostatocyst, which suggested the possibility of hyperadrenocorticism, was brought to the clinic because of sudden hyposthemia and polyurea/polydipsia. Clinical examination showed that he had hyperglycemia, uricglycemia, and ketonurea. A diagnosis of diabetogenous ketoacidosis was made, and treatment with insulin was initiated. But it was difficult to control the hyperglycemia, although the ketonurea disappeared. As adrenalopathy was suspected, a laparotomy was performed. Both the right and left adrenal glands showed morphological abnormality, and we resected the left adrenal gland completely, and the right adrenal gland subtotally. A few days after the operation, insulin was no longer needed, and no relapse has been seen since then. Histopathologically, the right adrenal gland had an adenoma, and the left gland showed hyperplasia. These findings suggest that hyperadrenocortism could be a cause of diabetes in a ferret.