Renal Disease in Ferrets
Pocket Pet · Mustela putorius furo · typical adult weight 0.60–2.00 kg
6 cited drugs treat Renal Disease in ferrets: Bicalutamide, Deslorelin, Desoxycorticosterone Pivalate, Finasteride, Fludrocortisone, Flutamide.
Acute or chronic kidney dysfunction. Drug selection is constrained by the need to avoid nephrotoxics (aminoglycosides, NSAIDs in many cases) and to dose-adjust renally cleared drugs. ACEi and dietary management feature heavily in chronic protocols.
The overview above describes Renal Disease across species; the citations below are the ExoticRx dose rules scoped to ferrets — a reference list, not new species-specific clinical guidance.
Bicalutamide
Endocrine| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5 mg/kg | q24h | Adrenal disease — testosterone/androgen receptor blockade | Weak | Rosenthal K. Adrenal gland disease in ferrets. Proc North Am Vet Conf; 2000:1015-1016. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.948 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
Deslorelin(Suprelorin)
Endocrine| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | 4.7 mg implant | Every 12-18 months | Adrenal cortical disease | Strong | SUPRELORIN F - Deslorelin Acetate Implant [US Product Label for Ferrets]. Fort Worth, TX: Virbac AH, Inc; 2020. | Carpenter's ref 55: Jepson L. Ferrets. In: Jepson L, eds. Exotic Animal Medicine: A Quick Reference Guide, 2nd ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2016:1-42. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=aa5776dc-277e-4a5e-885f-6e3f05c8404b — Verified against Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook, 10th Ed, p.378 (2026-08-01). |
Desoxycorticosterone Pivalate(Percorten-V, Zycortal)
Endocrine| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IM | 2 mg/kg | q21d | Adrenal insufficiency after bilateral adrenalectomy | Weak | GoettSD, Degner DA. Suspected adrenocortical insufficiency subsequent to bilateral adrenalectomy in a ferret. Exot DVM. 2003;5(1):15-18. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.948 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
Finasteride(Proscar, Propecia)
Endocrine| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5 mg/kg | q24h | Adrenal disease; prostatic enlargement | Weak | Rosenthal K. Endocrine disorders of ferrets: insulinoma and adrenal gland disease. Annu Waltham/OSU Symp Treat Small Anim Dis: Exotics Proc 21st; 1997:35-38. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.949 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
Fludrocortisone(Florinef)
Endocrine| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 0.05–0.1 mg/kg | q24h or divided q12h | Mineralocorticoid replacement after adrenalectomy | Weak | Shoemaker NJ, van Zeeland YR.A, Quesenberry KE, et al. Endocrine diseases of ferrets Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:77-91. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.949 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
Flutamide
Endocrine| Route | Dose | Frequency | Indication | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PO | 5–10 mg/kg | q12-24h | Adrenal disease — androgen inhibition / periurethral prostatic enlargement | Weak | Shoemaker NJ, van Zeeland YR.A, Quesenberry KE, et al. Endocrine diseases of ferrets Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 4th ed., Elsevier, St. Louis, MO; 2021:77-91. — Mined from Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, 6th Ed, p.949 (2026-08-01, PENDING REVIEW) |
Sourced from published veterinary references; awaiting credentialed clinical reviewer. See our editorial process. Reference only — not veterinary advice. Verify against current literature before clinical use.