North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) Practice Test

The presentation of an enlarged vulva and truncal alopecia in a 4-year-old female ferret is indicative of an adrenal tumor. Ferrets are prone to adrenal disorders, particularly adrenal gland tumors, which commonly manifest as hyperadrenocorticism. This condition is characterized by an overproduction of adrenal hormones, particularly sex steroids, which can lead to the symptoms observed.

Truncal alopecia is often associated with elevated levels of estrogen or other sex hormones, which is common in adrenal tumors. The enlarged vulva is a direct result of increased estrogen levels, which stimulate the tissues in the vulva. These endocrine changes are frequently seen with adrenal tumors in ferrets and underscore the relationship between the clinical signs and the condition.

Other conditions, like insulinoma, are characterized by different signs such as lethargy, weakness, or seizures due to low blood sugar, and would not typically lead to the vulvar enlargement or alopecia. Sertoli cell tumors are more common in male ferrets and can cause some hormonal effects, but the specific symptom of an enlarged vulva would not be present in a female. Hypothyroidism, while it can cause alopecia, is less common in ferrets compared to the more prevalent adrenal tumors, which