Ferrets for Life
Common Ferret Diseases and Conditions
Adrenal Disease
VETS: The first and most important thing you can do for your ferret is to ensure you have a "ferret knowledgeable" veterinarian. For
after hour emergencies, you should find out where they refer their
clients, that has ferret-savvy veterinarians present. When your ferret
is ill, they can take a turn for the worse very quickly, and you CANNOT
afford to wait a day or so or even hours in some circumstances. You
should have a vet that is close by (even if they are just a back-up)
where you could bring your ferret at any time: their life could depend
on it!
COLDS AND FLU: It is important to note that unlike cats and dogs, ferrets DO catch and transmit the human flu. You should avoid being around (close) and touching your ferret if either of you are ill. If you must handle your ferret you should wash your hands before and after handling, and avoid breathing on them. It cannot be stressed enough that whenever your ferret is under the weather, not acting normal, or looks funny, you should ALWAYS take them to the vet for a checkup! The longer you wait the worse the illness can get and will very quickly.
CONDITIONS: If you acquire a young ferret, it is very common for them to have a pro lapse rectum. This usually is caused by young ferrets being fed hard food at an early age, which is a little rough on their system. This condition will usually clear up on its own within a week, but you can help comfort your ferret by applying a small amount of Preparation H. If the rectum does not recede on its own within a few days or appears to be getting infected, you should take the ferret to the vet, as medical attention might be necessary in order to correct.
KEEP AN EYE ON THEM: As previously mentioned, when our ferrets get ill, they can get worse very quickly. It is important to keep a close eye on them, and ensure they are eating and drinking to avoid dehydration and loss of nutrients/electrolytes. you can also add electrolytes to their water in order restore any that are lost and promote fluid intake. If your ferret does become dehydrated, they will most likely need to be administered sub fluids to restore the loss quickly.
POOP CHART: Because ferrets eat a lot, that means they will poop a lot too! Their digestive systems process food quickly, causing them to poop about 3 hours after meals. It is a good idea to monitor the color and consistency of their waste. This can tell you if they are sick, or may have a foreign body inside. Below is a quick reference chart. You should always consult your vet anytime you notice an abnormality.
ILL FERRETS: May not be interested in eating any food (even if finger fed), so it is up to you to ensure they do. You should always have feeding syringes (NO NEEDLES) on hand; 35cc catheter tip. Getting the tip into the side or front of their mouth, you will need to SLOWLY push the food through the syringe, giving them time to swallow. Too much at once could lead to choking and or aspiration, so take your time. A ferret not eating on their own should be fed approximately 25-35cc of food every 3-4 hours, for a daily intake of about 80-120 cc's. Ferrets are by nature very clean animals, and do accumulate hairball's like cats. Unlike cats however, ferrets do not generally posses the reflux motion to cough up any hairball accumulations (though some have been known to do so). The best prevention is to provide them with vasoline on a weekly basis in order to lessen any accumulations from developing in their system. Some of the signs can be pencil thin poops, not pooping at all, refusing to eat, etc. If you suspect that your ferret might have a hairball or swallowed something they shouldn't have that is not being passed take him to the vet immediately, as an operation might be warranted for its removal. This situation can be life threatening to your ferret, so please do not wait.
While for the most parts, ferrets are sturdy animals, you should be prepared to react quickly. They are very good at hiding their illness/discomfort until it is very bad, challenging us to know they are ill prior to physical symptoms sometimes. Beginning at the age of 3-4, they are susceptible to two very common diseases that will need your attention and medical care for the rest of their lives, insulinoma and adrenal disease. Both, at some point, will require surgical intervention, and you should be prepared for it financially if and or when needed.
COMMON FERRET DISEASES
ADRENAL DISEASE
Adrenal disease- are tumors on the adrenal glands which are located in front of the kidneys and generally starts affecting ferrets over the age of 2. They will experience hair loss starting at the tail, moving upward on their body. They will become lethargic, they may gain a potbelly, and orangish skin. Males will get an enlarged prostrate, causing strain to urinate, while the female will have an enlarged vulva. Options are either surgery or medicine. Surgery has been very successful in most cases where the ferrets normally bounce right back. Another option which is medication. Consult your vet.
INSULINOMA
Insulinoma- is caused by tumors in the pancreas. This produces excessive amounts of insulin, where the ferret will experience a low blood sugar. Early signs are lethargic, pawing or foaming at the mouth, difficulty with hind legs, and staring into space. Options are either surgery or oral medication. Consult your vet.
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)
Simply stated IBD is an inflammation of the GI tract. Often this disease goes unrecognized until signs and symptoms appear which is often at an advanced stage. The signs and symptoms demonstrated could represent a host of illnesses, which makes diagnosis much more difficult. The most common signs are bird-seed like poops, diarrhea, soft poops, and a change in appetite. There is only one way to diagnosis this disease and that is by a biopsy which includes the mesenteric lymph nodes. Often treatment is begun without a biopsy, on symptoms alone to see if a response is obtained from the treatment drugs. Care should be given to this however, as the drugs to treat IBD could worsen other illness like Proliferative Colitis, Heliocobactor or Coccidiosis, which generally present the same. It is also very common for the ferret to have ulcers at the same time.
CARDIOMYOPATHY
Cardiomyopathy is the death of cardiac muscle fibers which gets replaced by scar tissue and can take on two forms: Dilated and Hypertrophic which share same symptoms but different causes. Signs of heart failure- include congestion, edema (fluid retention causing limbs to swell, build up in abdomen or around lungs, enlarged heart, low blood pressure, tiredness, and difficulty breathing). This disease is very hard to detect in the early stages, as it starts progressing, the respiratory rate and pulse increase, mucous membranes will appear purple or blue vs pink, and will have a slow capillary refill (press on the gums with your finger turning it white and release; will take 3+ seconds to return to pink color). There is no cure but there is treatments.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy - an enlarged heart and more common form of heart disease in ferrets. The heart muscles become stretched and lose the ability to contract with strength, resulting in only a small fraction of blood being pumped. The backing up of blood due to the decrease in pumping strength can back into the abdomen (swollen, fluid filled belly), lungs (initially soft cough which worsens, decrease in energy). At end stage (Chronic Heart Failure), it becomes very difficult to breath, often fluid in lungs and abdomen, which presses on the diaphragm.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy- is an overgrowth of heart fibers which decreases the effectiveness in pumping the blood. The muscle walls of the ventricles become extremely thickened, reducing the size of the chamber the blood flow through. This disease is often diagnosed in much younger ferrets than DCM, and is harder to diagnose as no heart enlargement will be visible on x-rays, necessitating the use of Echocardiograms, Sonograms and ECG.
COCCIDIA
Coccidia is a gastrointestinal parasite affecting the lining of the ferrets intestinal track and can cause bloody diarrhea. This disease is usually due to poor sanitation but can be picked up from the environment. While not transmittable to humans, it can be contagious to other animals. Symptoms can include: Stool has a very strong odor, Diarrhea (often accompanied with a prolapse rectum), Weight loss, Dehydration, Lethargy. Diagnosis is usually done by a fecal float. Ferrets usually respond very well to Albon which is usually administered orally once a day for 9 days. Sub-Q fluids might need to be administered as well to keep the ferret well hydrated. This disease can be transmitted to all other ferrets so it is best to treat all animals. Constant cleaning of the litter box, bedding, cage area and environment will also be key in eradicating the parasite.
HELIOCOBACTOR
Heliocobactor is a bacteria that results in chronic infection of the stomach which eventually destroys the stomach lining impairing the ability to secrete acid and digest food and causes two stomach syndromes: Chronic atrophic gastritis and Peptic ulcers. Gastritis will cause abdominal pain and often food intake is minimal. If ulcers are present, they will have very dark tarry stools, and can exhibit any of the following: Gastritis, enlarged lymph, Lethargy, Painful abdomen, Grinding teeth, Excess salivation, Vomiting, Loss of appétit, Soft Black stool. Treatment usually consists of a combo of Amoxy, Flagyl and an antacid (Pepto-Bismol) for about 4-8 weeks. Steriods can be used to suppress severe inflammation.
FLU
Usually causes upper respiratory symptoms with possible fever that may diminish within 48 hours. They may exhibit bouts of sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, nasal discharge, lethargic, loss of appetite and rub their face often. It is possible for the flu to turn into pneumonia. Treatment consists of supportive care with nutrition and hydration being key. In severe cases, antihistamines and antibiotics might be prescribed. Lower respiratory problems may also be present consisting of coughing, labored breathing, wheezing and respiratory crackles. Ferrets can NOT catch the human cold but rather a respiratory infection, sinus infection, etc.
MAST CELL TUMORS
The second most common tumor of the skin, almost always benign and pose no significant health risk. They appear as flat scaly areas and may have hair loss at the site. Usually appears as an itchy scab. Mast cells usually are near blood vessels and full of histamines. When stimulated, the histamines are released causing blood vessels nearby to dilate and leak fluid, which makes the ferret very itchy. They may cause hive like appearance, congestion, swelling, itching and general irritation. Frequency usually increases with age and several can be present at the same time. As they rarely invade below the skin, but can easily be surgically removed.
PROLIFERATIVE COLITIS
Proliferative Colitis is caused by a non-contagious bacteria. Visible signs include dark stools containing large amounts of clear or green mucous. ferrets often strain to defecate and may act as if it is painful to go, which can lead into a prolapse rectum. The bacteria interferes with absorption of nutrients and water. If not treated, ferrets can rapidly lose much of their body weight, which will result in death. Treatment is providing meds twice a day.
RENAL FAILURE
Usually found in older ferrets when the kidneys lose the ability to perform their function due to the continual lose of renal tissue. As it progresses, it becomes chronic as the kidneys can no longer excrete substances, and therefore it builds up into the blood. They may have an ammonia smell on their breath and mouth ulcers. There is no cure, only supportive treatment to decrease levels of toxic substances in the blood, including providing a low protein diet and Sub-Q fluids..
ULCERS
Can be asymptomatic or accompanied by some signs of abdominal distress. Some may vomit and have bad breath. Most notably- grinding teeth (from abdominal pain), pawing at the mouth, and/or black tarry stools, loss of appetite, occasional vomiting, loose stools, etc. A response to Carafate is also a good indicator and is key in healing this condition which can last months. It acts as a patch during acid secretions by the stomach. It is important to give the medication 15-30 minutes "prior" to "each" feeding of duck soup. Other medications you can try are Pepto-Bismol or Pepcid and ensure the ferret continues taking in food and water, and does not become dehydrated.
COLDS AND FLU: It is important to note that unlike cats and dogs, ferrets DO catch and transmit the human flu. You should avoid being around (close) and touching your ferret if either of you are ill. If you must handle your ferret you should wash your hands before and after handling, and avoid breathing on them. It cannot be stressed enough that whenever your ferret is under the weather, not acting normal, or looks funny, you should ALWAYS take them to the vet for a checkup! The longer you wait the worse the illness can get and will very quickly.
CONDITIONS: If you acquire a young ferret, it is very common for them to have a pro lapse rectum. This usually is caused by young ferrets being fed hard food at an early age, which is a little rough on their system. This condition will usually clear up on its own within a week, but you can help comfort your ferret by applying a small amount of Preparation H. If the rectum does not recede on its own within a few days or appears to be getting infected, you should take the ferret to the vet, as medical attention might be necessary in order to correct.
KEEP AN EYE ON THEM: As previously mentioned, when our ferrets get ill, they can get worse very quickly. It is important to keep a close eye on them, and ensure they are eating and drinking to avoid dehydration and loss of nutrients/electrolytes. you can also add electrolytes to their water in order restore any that are lost and promote fluid intake. If your ferret does become dehydrated, they will most likely need to be administered sub fluids to restore the loss quickly.
POOP CHART: Because ferrets eat a lot, that means they will poop a lot too! Their digestive systems process food quickly, causing them to poop about 3 hours after meals. It is a good idea to monitor the color and consistency of their waste. This can tell you if they are sick, or may have a foreign body inside. Below is a quick reference chart. You should always consult your vet anytime you notice an abnormality.
- Green poop - a very non-specific sign - it just means that food is moving through too fast. The normal brown color seen in feces is the end product of breakdown of old red blood cells. The pigment goes through a green stage called biliverdin, before it becomes brown (called stercobilin). So if it is going through at an accelerated rate, it never breaks all the way down, and has a green color to it. Anything that accelerates passage of food or causes diarrhea can result in green color - ECE, rapid food changes, lymphoma, just about anything.
- Black tarry poop - Very suggestive of gastric bleeding and usually associated with gastric ulcers. You have to have significant bleeding in the stomach for the feces to turn black. The black color is the result of digestion of blood, which usually only occurs in the stomach.
- Bloody poop - If you see frank blood in the poop - it is usually either from the large bowel or rectum ( if seen in small amounts) - of if there is a lot of blood, it could come from the entire length of the GI tract. Massive hemorrhage is seen either from severe gastric bleeds or shock in ferrets, and as one might imagine, is a really bad sign.
- Birdseed poop - Generally a sign of maldigestion or malabsorption. Also non-specific, it can be seen with any disease that severely affects the small intestine. Most commonly seen with ECE, the individual seeds are usually undigested fat and starch complexes. When you see this, you should consider removing a ferret from kibble and going to a bland, easily digested supplement for a while.
- Pencil-lead thin stools - Think partial obstruction - usually a foreign body.
ILL FERRETS: May not be interested in eating any food (even if finger fed), so it is up to you to ensure they do. You should always have feeding syringes (NO NEEDLES) on hand; 35cc catheter tip. Getting the tip into the side or front of their mouth, you will need to SLOWLY push the food through the syringe, giving them time to swallow. Too much at once could lead to choking and or aspiration, so take your time. A ferret not eating on their own should be fed approximately 25-35cc of food every 3-4 hours, for a daily intake of about 80-120 cc's. Ferrets are by nature very clean animals, and do accumulate hairball's like cats. Unlike cats however, ferrets do not generally posses the reflux motion to cough up any hairball accumulations (though some have been known to do so). The best prevention is to provide them with vasoline on a weekly basis in order to lessen any accumulations from developing in their system. Some of the signs can be pencil thin poops, not pooping at all, refusing to eat, etc. If you suspect that your ferret might have a hairball or swallowed something they shouldn't have that is not being passed take him to the vet immediately, as an operation might be warranted for its removal. This situation can be life threatening to your ferret, so please do not wait.
While for the most parts, ferrets are sturdy animals, you should be prepared to react quickly. They are very good at hiding their illness/discomfort until it is very bad, challenging us to know they are ill prior to physical symptoms sometimes. Beginning at the age of 3-4, they are susceptible to two very common diseases that will need your attention and medical care for the rest of their lives, insulinoma and adrenal disease. Both, at some point, will require surgical intervention, and you should be prepared for it financially if and or when needed.
COMMON FERRET DISEASES
ADRENAL DISEASE
Adrenal disease- are tumors on the adrenal glands which are located in front of the kidneys and generally starts affecting ferrets over the age of 2. They will experience hair loss starting at the tail, moving upward on their body. They will become lethargic, they may gain a potbelly, and orangish skin. Males will get an enlarged prostrate, causing strain to urinate, while the female will have an enlarged vulva. Options are either surgery or medicine. Surgery has been very successful in most cases where the ferrets normally bounce right back. Another option which is medication. Consult your vet.
INSULINOMA
Insulinoma- is caused by tumors in the pancreas. This produces excessive amounts of insulin, where the ferret will experience a low blood sugar. Early signs are lethargic, pawing or foaming at the mouth, difficulty with hind legs, and staring into space. Options are either surgery or oral medication. Consult your vet.
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)
Simply stated IBD is an inflammation of the GI tract. Often this disease goes unrecognized until signs and symptoms appear which is often at an advanced stage. The signs and symptoms demonstrated could represent a host of illnesses, which makes diagnosis much more difficult. The most common signs are bird-seed like poops, diarrhea, soft poops, and a change in appetite. There is only one way to diagnosis this disease and that is by a biopsy which includes the mesenteric lymph nodes. Often treatment is begun without a biopsy, on symptoms alone to see if a response is obtained from the treatment drugs. Care should be given to this however, as the drugs to treat IBD could worsen other illness like Proliferative Colitis, Heliocobactor or Coccidiosis, which generally present the same. It is also very common for the ferret to have ulcers at the same time.
CARDIOMYOPATHY
Cardiomyopathy is the death of cardiac muscle fibers which gets replaced by scar tissue and can take on two forms: Dilated and Hypertrophic which share same symptoms but different causes. Signs of heart failure- include congestion, edema (fluid retention causing limbs to swell, build up in abdomen or around lungs, enlarged heart, low blood pressure, tiredness, and difficulty breathing). This disease is very hard to detect in the early stages, as it starts progressing, the respiratory rate and pulse increase, mucous membranes will appear purple or blue vs pink, and will have a slow capillary refill (press on the gums with your finger turning it white and release; will take 3+ seconds to return to pink color). There is no cure but there is treatments.
Dilated Cardiomyopathy - an enlarged heart and more common form of heart disease in ferrets. The heart muscles become stretched and lose the ability to contract with strength, resulting in only a small fraction of blood being pumped. The backing up of blood due to the decrease in pumping strength can back into the abdomen (swollen, fluid filled belly), lungs (initially soft cough which worsens, decrease in energy). At end stage (Chronic Heart Failure), it becomes very difficult to breath, often fluid in lungs and abdomen, which presses on the diaphragm.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy- is an overgrowth of heart fibers which decreases the effectiveness in pumping the blood. The muscle walls of the ventricles become extremely thickened, reducing the size of the chamber the blood flow through. This disease is often diagnosed in much younger ferrets than DCM, and is harder to diagnose as no heart enlargement will be visible on x-rays, necessitating the use of Echocardiograms, Sonograms and ECG.
COCCIDIA
Coccidia is a gastrointestinal parasite affecting the lining of the ferrets intestinal track and can cause bloody diarrhea. This disease is usually due to poor sanitation but can be picked up from the environment. While not transmittable to humans, it can be contagious to other animals. Symptoms can include: Stool has a very strong odor, Diarrhea (often accompanied with a prolapse rectum), Weight loss, Dehydration, Lethargy. Diagnosis is usually done by a fecal float. Ferrets usually respond very well to Albon which is usually administered orally once a day for 9 days. Sub-Q fluids might need to be administered as well to keep the ferret well hydrated. This disease can be transmitted to all other ferrets so it is best to treat all animals. Constant cleaning of the litter box, bedding, cage area and environment will also be key in eradicating the parasite.
HELIOCOBACTOR
Heliocobactor is a bacteria that results in chronic infection of the stomach which eventually destroys the stomach lining impairing the ability to secrete acid and digest food and causes two stomach syndromes: Chronic atrophic gastritis and Peptic ulcers. Gastritis will cause abdominal pain and often food intake is minimal. If ulcers are present, they will have very dark tarry stools, and can exhibit any of the following: Gastritis, enlarged lymph, Lethargy, Painful abdomen, Grinding teeth, Excess salivation, Vomiting, Loss of appétit, Soft Black stool. Treatment usually consists of a combo of Amoxy, Flagyl and an antacid (Pepto-Bismol) for about 4-8 weeks. Steriods can be used to suppress severe inflammation.
FLU
Usually causes upper respiratory symptoms with possible fever that may diminish within 48 hours. They may exhibit bouts of sneezing, congestion, watery eyes, nasal discharge, lethargic, loss of appetite and rub their face often. It is possible for the flu to turn into pneumonia. Treatment consists of supportive care with nutrition and hydration being key. In severe cases, antihistamines and antibiotics might be prescribed. Lower respiratory problems may also be present consisting of coughing, labored breathing, wheezing and respiratory crackles. Ferrets can NOT catch the human cold but rather a respiratory infection, sinus infection, etc.
MAST CELL TUMORS
The second most common tumor of the skin, almost always benign and pose no significant health risk. They appear as flat scaly areas and may have hair loss at the site. Usually appears as an itchy scab. Mast cells usually are near blood vessels and full of histamines. When stimulated, the histamines are released causing blood vessels nearby to dilate and leak fluid, which makes the ferret very itchy. They may cause hive like appearance, congestion, swelling, itching and general irritation. Frequency usually increases with age and several can be present at the same time. As they rarely invade below the skin, but can easily be surgically removed.
PROLIFERATIVE COLITIS
Proliferative Colitis is caused by a non-contagious bacteria. Visible signs include dark stools containing large amounts of clear or green mucous. ferrets often strain to defecate and may act as if it is painful to go, which can lead into a prolapse rectum. The bacteria interferes with absorption of nutrients and water. If not treated, ferrets can rapidly lose much of their body weight, which will result in death. Treatment is providing meds twice a day.
RENAL FAILURE
Usually found in older ferrets when the kidneys lose the ability to perform their function due to the continual lose of renal tissue. As it progresses, it becomes chronic as the kidneys can no longer excrete substances, and therefore it builds up into the blood. They may have an ammonia smell on their breath and mouth ulcers. There is no cure, only supportive treatment to decrease levels of toxic substances in the blood, including providing a low protein diet and Sub-Q fluids..
ULCERS
Can be asymptomatic or accompanied by some signs of abdominal distress. Some may vomit and have bad breath. Most notably- grinding teeth (from abdominal pain), pawing at the mouth, and/or black tarry stools, loss of appetite, occasional vomiting, loose stools, etc. A response to Carafate is also a good indicator and is key in healing this condition which can last months. It acts as a patch during acid secretions by the stomach. It is important to give the medication 15-30 minutes "prior" to "each" feeding of duck soup. Other medications you can try are Pepto-Bismol or Pepcid and ensure the ferret continues taking in food and water, and does not become dehydrated.
