health

YOUR FERRETS HEALTH

What should I not worry about?

Scratching
Ferrets just seem to be itchy little critters. If you don't see any fleas or "flea dust" (bits of dried blood), it's probably not fleas, so as long as the skin isn't irritated or balding don't worry about it. If you see little white flakes, it may be dry skin.

Dancing
A happy ferret will "dance," flinging himself about on all fours with an arched back. Clucking is common too. Dancing or just careening into walls or bookcases is not at all uncommon, but ferrets seem to just bounce off of such obstacles. Unless they actually injure themselves, don't worry about them; they're having fun.

Occasional sneezes
If you crawled under bookcases and couches, you'd sneeze too. Also, ferrets have a pair of scent glands near their chins, and sneezing can be a way of forcing some of the scent out so it can be rubbed on something. "Reverse sneezes" These sound almost like asthma, about the same duration as a sneeze, and often occur several in a row, maybe after the poked her nose somewhere dusty. They don't look or sound like a cough. You might see the ferret's ribcage or body move once or twice a second with the force of the inhalation.

Hiccups
Hiccups are not uncommon, especially in young kits, who sometimes seem alarmed by them. A comforting scratch, a drink of water, or a small treat [6.3] can help.

Tail-wagging
For some reason, many ferrets wag their tails quickly when they have their front ends in a tube or under a rug and they see something interesting (a toy, a sock, another ferret) at the other end. It's a normal sign of excitement.

Tail puffing
A ferret's tail will bottle-brush when he's excited or upset. He's not necessarily frightened. He'd have to be really worked up for the hair on the rest of his body to stand up, though.

Ear suckling
Often ferrets will suck on each other's ears, and sometimes even cats' or dogs' ears, especially when they're sleeping. It's probably a lot like thumb-sucking in humans, and nothing to worry about as long as the one doing the sucking is eating well and the other one's ears aren't getting sore.

Licking soap
For some reason, many ferrets love to eat soap, stealing it from the bathroom or even licking the tub. A little bit of soap won't hurt your ferret, though it may give her diarrhoea. Don't give it to her as a treat, of course, and try to keep it out of her reach, but it's nothing to panic about unless she manages to eat a lot.

Summer weight loss (in males)
Normally, weight loss is something to be concerned about, but many males lose a fair bit of weight, even as much as 40% of their bulk, in the summer and gain it back in the fall. It's mainly preparation for breeding, but it's common in neutered males, too. If your ferret seems otherwise healthy and happy, don't worry.

HEALTH RISKS/GENERAL WELL BEING OF YOUR FERRET

Warning signs to look for from head to tail.

A runny nose = cold or allergies - see a vet. Your ferret is able to catch colds from you.

Watery or squinty eyes = general indication of poor health or injury to eye -see a vet.

Black, reddish brown earwax = ear mites - see a vet.

Brittle/short/broken whiskers = poor diet - if doesn't improve with a proper diet see a vet.

Dull coat = poor diet - if it doesn't improve with proper diet see a vet.

Missing fur = could indicate several health problems or he is just shedding. If the fur doesn't grow back within a week or two - see a vet.

Any lumps = tumour, cyst, or enlarged glands - see a vet. Remember to feel the ferrets body gently to reduce risk of harm.

Vomiting = indication of virus or intestinal blockage - see a vet.

Any swelling or discharge from the genital areas = infection - see a vet.

Any change in stool colour, consistency and frequency =

Green stool is and indication of a viral disease called ECE.

Black stools indicate gastrointestinal bleeding.

Diarrhoea indicates the flu or is caused by milk products.

Lack of stools may indicate an intestinal blockage.

Ferret is lethargic = general sign of illness or poisoning - see a vet.

Drooling = upset stomach - see a vet.

Pain or sensitivity = injury - see a vet.

New odour or 'spraying' at times other than excitement/fear (in scented ferrets) = new odour can be sign of illness and spraying at weird times can indicate a blocked scent gland - see a vet.

Emergency at home health care

What to do?, what to do?. An injured ferret should be gently wrapped in a towel (except for his head) and taken to a vet as soon as possible.

Bleeding - if your ferret is bleeding due to cutting the cuticle of the claw use Styptic Powder to stop it. Any other type of bleeding should be stopped with direct pressure to the wound as well as styptic powder.

Bites - clean with hydrogen peroxide.

Broken bones - immobilise until able to get to your vet.

Burns - apply a cool cloth to the burn and apply ointment or aloe vera. If it's a chemical burn rinse with water first.

Heat stroke and hypothermia - for heat stroke wrap a cool wash cloth around him and add fresh water every few minutes until his temperature is about 103. For frostbite warm slowly, a heating pad set on low will work.

Head injuries/bleeding/unconscious - keep him immobilised and horizontal until you can get to your vet.

Poisoning - call the vet.

Drowning - check to see if there is a heart beat, breathing, and anything in his mouth. Hold upside-down and give a couple firm pats on the back. Then do CPR as your vet instructs.

Ferret CPR

There is no guarantee that CPR can help your ferret or that my instructions for CPR are the best. But this is basically what I've been told to do if my ferret stops breathing. If your ferret has stopped breathing and you want to try and save him....cover his mouth and nose with your mouth and give very small puffs of air. Keep in mind that their lungs are tiny in comparison to yours or a child's. The amount of air you can trap in the side of your cheek could be even too much. Check with your vet to locate the correct spot to apply pressure if your ferret's heart has stopped beating. These things my not revive your ferret and may cause further harm if not done properly. But I would atleast try to save one if mine if the situation arose.

When to call the vet

In most cases it is always reasonable to call a vet.

If you tell them the symptoms then he can decide if he feels it is necessary to bring your ferret in. However, if you feel that your pet needs to be seen and your vet disagrees take him in anyway. It's better to be safe than sorry.

Generally, if your ferret is vomiting, lethargic, lack of appetite, has strange stools, lumps or pain you should take him in immediately.

Some ferrets may develop a few medical problems that should be taken into account before you purchase one.

Adrenal disease - first symptom is usually hair loss, starting at the tail.

Lymphosarcoma - symptoms vary and may not be present at all. Look for swollen lymph nodes and spleen, lethargy, and hind leg weakness.

Insulinoma or hypoglycaemia - first symptoms are weight loss and lethargy.

Vaccinations

Your ferret should have already had his first canine distemper vaccination before or when you get him. After this he will need two more given three weeks apart (8,12,16 weeks) and a yearly booster.

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