Ferret Health
Ferret-Land is focused on the care and welbeing of all Ferrets therefore this website is appropriate for Working and Pet owners alike. The basics of making sure the ferret is getting the best care are the same. We agree with working but you should appreciate what the ferret is doing for you. They are not your tool and should not be treated as such by leaving them abandoned.
IF AT ANY TIME YOU FEEL THAT YOUR FERRET IS ILL GET THEM TO THE VET FAST AS THEY GO DOWN HILL QUICKLY.
Ear Mites
Ear mites are very common in ferrets. Ear mites are microscopic and when in a ferret's ears, they appear as a dark reddish-brown to black discharge. Simple cleaning will not get rid of ear mites. There are several different products on the market for ear mites that your vet will recommend. Any medication should be for ferrets.
If you have one ferret with ear mites, chances are they all do. Your best bet is to treat them all.
Fleas
Fleas are another common parasite found on ferrets. They are easy to catch and difficult to get rid of. It is important to get your ferrets to a ferret friendly Vet quickly if you believe they have fleas. If you have other animals they can catch and pass on fleas easily so you are likely to have to treat them to.
Ticks
Ticks are parasites that look like little crabs. Ticks can carry Lyme Disease so it is important to remove the tick as quickly as possible or get the vet to do it. Ticks are very good at holding on so I only recomend using a tick remover to avoid infection however I would say go to your vet as lime disease can kill quickly if caught and not treated. If you do remove it yourself make sure you know exactly where it was and keep an eye on it. If your ferret starts to get ill take them straight to the vet and tell them about the tick.
The Flu
Ferrets are susceptible to the flu just like us. Ferret have to "ride out" the flu just like us as there are no cures available. Some of the symptoms of a cold or the flu in a ferret include sneezing, coughing, runny nose and eyes, a fever, lethargy, wheezing, diarrohea, and loss of appetite. You can nurse your ferret to health but I recomend taking them to the vet for a check up as they may be able to assist you and check that no other illnesses are present as a result of it. Be sure your ferret drinks plenty of fluid and that they do not stop eating or pooping. If you have a cold or flu take precautions to not to spread it to your ferrets, Get some one else to loo after them if you can.
Adrenal Disease
Adrenal tumors are one of the most common types of tumors found in ferrets. A ferret has two adrenal glands, which are located on top of each kidney. The adrenal gland produces important hormones that regulate important bodily functions. Most notably, they produce adrenaline. When a tumor is growing in the adrenal gland, it causes overproduction of the hormones produced by the gland. This is called hyperadrenalcorticism. The most common symptom of adrenal disease is pattern hairloss, usually starting from the base of the tail and moving up the torso. Other symptoms are swollen vulva (in females), sexual aggression (in males), itching, and difficulty urinating. Less visible symptoms are enlarged prostate, enlarged spleen, and anemia. The only cure for adrenal disease is the removal of the affected glands by surgery
Insulinoma
Diabetes is the effect of too little insulin being made by the pancreas. The body can not then use any glucose that is introduced to the body causing blood sugar levels to soar to dangerously high levels. Insulinoma is exactly the opposite condition. Tumors develop in the insulin-secreting cells inside the pancreas. These tumors then begin to produce insulin in such large amounts that it uses glucose in the body too quickly, causing blood sugar levels to dive incredibly low. Generally insulinoma strikes ferrets who are five years old or more, however it has been seen in ferrets as young as 2 years old. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common illnesses seen in ferrets along with adrenal gland disease and it can go undetected for a surprisingly long period of time. Be aware that symptoms may seem to come and go causing the length of time that some ferrets are taken to a vet to become prolonged. Early detection certainly can make a difference in the prognosis of this disease so know the signs to watch for. Some of these signs include weakness, salivation, pawing at the mouth (indicative of nausea) a far away look or general fogginess, sores in the mouth, lethargy, tremors, loss of coordination, vomiting and weight loss. As the disease progresses, other symptoms, such as seizures, rear end weakness or paralysis, and comas become more common. Treatment for insulinoma is generally surgical although this may not be an option for all cases.
Lymphosarcoma
Lymphosarcoma, a.k.a. lymphoma, is cancer of the lymph nodes or lymphatic system. This type of cancer is all too common in ferrets. There are two types of lymphosarcoma. Juvenile Lymphosarcoma generally affects ferrets under a year of age and is usually devastatingly quick in progression. Classic Lymphosarcoma can affect a ferret of any age, but is most commonly found in older ferrets. Juvenile lymphosarcoma usually comes on very quickly and sadly, is often diagnosed after death. The tumors grow so fast that they invade most of the major organs and the body just cannot function any longer. The first signs on classic lymphosarcoma are usually enlarged lymph nodes in the armpits and on the sides of the neck. These lymph nodes can also be enlarged due to fatty deposits, especially in overweight ferrets, so it is best to have your vet check them out if you are concerned. Unfortunately there is no guaranteed cure for lymphosarcoma. Surgery is not an option because the cancer is usually present throughout the entire lymph system in some stage. There is a chemotherapy treatment for lymphosarcoma which some ferrets respond to very well. It is very expensive and the response rate is not very high in ferrets. You should talk with your vet to decide if this is an alternative that you wish to engage in. Alternatively, some ferrets respond well and have many more months and even years when put on a steroid treatment to slow the growth of the tumors and reduce inflammation.
Distemper
Canine distemper virus (a.k.a. CDV) is a deadly virus that can be prevented by annual vaccinations. This virus is very contagious and can be spread through the air or by contact . It can come into your house through your windows and on your clothes and shoes. Symptoms of distemper infection include eye discharge, rash on torso and face, hardened paw pads, diarrohea, vomiting, and lethargy. These symptoms eventually give way to seizures and coma and euthanasia is recommended to relieve suffering.
UTI
Urinary tract and bladder infections are caused by bacteria and can be brought on by a number of things, including dirty litter boxes. Treatment is usually simple antibiotics. Symptoms include difficulty urinating, obvious pain while urinating, dribbling or odd-looking sometimes bloody urine.
Ulcers
Ulcers are fairly common among ferrets, especially our older fuzzies. Ulcers are caused by many factors, including stress either from moving, losing a cage mate, having other illnesses, eating a low quality food, being injured, being overcrowded or abused, and/or due to lack of exercise. Other factors that may contribute to an ulcer include ulcer-causing medications, bacterial invasions, a foreign body, bile, reflux or kidney failure. When any one of the components in this system breaks down, it leaves the stomach lining open to attack from the stomach acid and this is what causes ulcers. Some of the signs that your ferret might have an ulcer include teeth grinding (an almost sure sign of abdominal pain), black or tarry stools, drooling , pawing at the mouth, weight loss, lethargy and anorexia. Many of these symptoms can be mistaken for other diseases, as they are fairly generalized symptoms. However, if a ferret has bloody stool or black tarry stool it is almost certain that some type of internal bleeding is taking place and the ferret needs immediate medical attention. If the ferret stops eating, drinking or pooping, medical attention should be sought immediately.
Waardenburg Syndrome
Ferrets with a white stripe on their face or a fully white head, primarily blazes, badgers, and pandas, almost certainly carry a congenital defect which shares some similarities to Waardenburg Syndrome. This causes, among other things, a cranial deformation in the womb which broadens the skull, white face markings, and also partial or total deafness. It is estimated as many as 75 percent of ferrets with these Waardenburg-like colorings are deaf. Beyond that, the cranial deformation also causes a higher instance of stillborn ferret kits.
