Common Ferret Ailments
What is Percy doing here. Is he sick or just playing?
Unfortunately, ferrets are prone to a myriad of health issues. Some are treatable. Others, not so much.
Please note that this information isn't a substitute to regular veterinary care, and in the case of an emergency, you should seek the help of your local vet's office
Unfortunately, ferrets are prone to a myriad of health issues. Some are treatable. Others, not so much.
Please note that this information isn't a substitute to regular veterinary care, and in the case of an emergency, you should seek the help of your local vet's office
Ear Mites
Ear mites are quite a common affliction with ferrets, but thankfully are simple to get rid of. If you notice that your ferret has particularly itchy ears, dark earwax (it'll sometimes look like coffee grounds), minor hair loss around the ears, a pungent odor of the ears, or they look scabby, your ferret might have ear mites.
Diagnosis is easy: Your vet will probably take a sample of the wax, and view it under a microscope to look for eggs (you can also do this at home if you know what to look for). Treatment is also simple.
Treatments can include:
Revolution- drops you put on the ferret's neck. It's a simple one time application. Bonus- it also treats fleas
Tresaderm- drops applied into the ferret's ears. Ferrets tend to hate liquid in their ears, and this must be done twice daily.
MitaClear- also applied into the ear. Application is much easier as it's twice over 7-day intervals (two times 7 days apart)
If you are treating for mites, it's a good idea to give all bedding a good wash at least once during treatment, that way any eggs residing in bedding are killed.
I also got this handy tip from a vet: sometimes mites will migrate to the tail, since ferrets tend to sleep in a donut shape, with their tail near their ears. Giving the tail a small amount of treatment might help a particularly stubborn case of mites.
Fleas
Depending on where you live, fleas may also be an issue. Fleas can be very pesky critters, so it's best to prevent them before they happen! If you notice your ferret scratching excessively, scabby lesions, or small specks of dirt (flea dirt), your ferret probably has fleas.
Recommended flea treatments for ferrets include Revolution and Advantage Multi. Revolution hasn't been tested on ferrets specifically, but it's been widely used, and most ferrets respond well to it. Advantage Multi is the only FDA-approved treatment for ferrets.
When using Revolution, I recommend using the kitten/puppy dose, 1 tube per ferret.
Other flea meds such as Advantage Kitten and Frontline can also be used, but I recommend using a lower dose of 1 drop per lb of ferret.
Note: this is the dosing that my vet recommends. Other vets may have differing recommendations. Consult with your vet to determine what dosage is best for your ferrets.
Avoid OTC flea meds such as BioSpot, Hartz, Sargents, etc. Through my work in a pet store, I can confirm that these treatments are not as effective, and that many people have had issues with reactions in their pets. Use at your own risk, and be aware that I do NOT recommend them, ever.
Waardenburgs Syndrome
This is a bit of a different "disease". Waardenburg's isn't an acquired disease, it's congenital, meaning the ferret was born with it. Ferrets with Waardenburgs have a smaller face, wide-set almond shaped eyes, and may have a short tail. They usually have panda or blaze markings, and may have a ring around the tail. Sometimes, the tail is shorter than normal. Almost all Waardy ferrets are deaf. This isn't a bad thing, and a deaf ferret shouldn't be disregarded as a pet, but considerations should be taken while training. Deafies may play rougher, since they can't hear another ferret squeak or squeal. They may need other methods while nip training. As always, lots of patience is needed.
Adrenal Disease
Adrenal disease is caused by tumors on the adrenal gland. It typically starts to appear around age 2, but younger cases have been noted. There are many theories about the cause of adrenal disease, but no single cause has been determined. Early neutering and unnatural light cycles seem to be the most cited causes. In the USA, ferrets sold in pet stores are often neutered at a very young age, sometimes as young as 4-5 weeks. This is thought to create hormone imbalances which later lead to adrenal disease.
As far as light cycles go, the theory is that keeping ferrets in an extended light cycle somehow interferes with the proper functioning of the adrenal gland and may contribute to the development of adrenal disease. It's recommended to give ferrets a dark place to sleep, and if possible, keep them on as natural light cycle as possible.
Symptoms of adrenal disease include: hair loss, lack of appetite, lethargy, aggression, increase in odor, difficulty urinating (males), and a swollen vulva (females). There is a blood test available for adrenal disease (Tennessee Panel) but there have been cases of false positives/negatives. It is more common nowadays to give the ferret a Lupron shot. An improvement of the condition is seen as a positive diagnosis for adrenal.
Treatments for adrenal disease include: surgery, melatonin (only treats symptoms), Lupron injections, and Deslorelin implants. Discuss treatment options with your vet to determine the best method of treatment.
Insulinoma
Insulinoma is cancer of the pancreas. Unfortunately, insulinoma is another common ferret disease. It's most common in ferrets age 2 and up, but cases in younger ferrets have been documented. With insulinoma, insulin production is increased, so there is too much. This causes the blood sugar levels to drop, eventually resulting in a "crash". It's the opposite of human diabetes.
It is thought that feeding fruits, vegetables, and other carbs (yes, including kibble) contribute to insulinoma, which is why it's so important to provide your ferret with a healthy diet.
Symptoms of insulinoma include staring into space, lethargy, hind leg weakness, and acting "drunk". In severe cases it can lead to seizures.
If your ferret goes into an insulinomic episode, you need to bring him out asap with Karo syrup or honey applied to the gums or anus with a q-tip. Once the episode has passed, it is extremely important to follow up with a high protein meal.
The most common treatment is prednisolone, which is typically given with Carafate to help prevent tummy ulcers. Again, diet is extremely important to an insulinomic ferret, and ALL fruits/veggies should be avoided as well as sugary supplements such as FerretVite or Ferretlax. A meat-based kibble such as Wysong, or a fully raw diet is highly recommended.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma are tumors that affect different tissues, lymph nodes, spleen, kidneys, etc. There is not one cause for lymphoma, but many factors may be at play- early neutering, infectious diseases, diet, and genetics are just a few speculations.
There are 2 forms of lymphoma, juvenile and adult.
Juvenile lymphoma tends to be more aggressive, and the prognosis usually isn't as good as adult onset lymphoma. Symptoms can vary, but may include lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and coughing.
Adult onset lymphoma tends to progress more slowly and some ferrets live a happy life after diagnosis. Symptoms can include loss of appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, weight loss, enlarged spleen, and other various symptoms depending on the organs affected.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for lymphoma. Steps can be taken to slow the progression of the disease (chemotherapy), but the type of lymphoma, progression of the disease, and the general health of the ferret should be taken into consideration before beginning any medication regimen. It's best to discuss potential treatment options with your vet to find the best method for your situation.
Ear mites are quite a common affliction with ferrets, but thankfully are simple to get rid of. If you notice that your ferret has particularly itchy ears, dark earwax (it'll sometimes look like coffee grounds), minor hair loss around the ears, a pungent odor of the ears, or they look scabby, your ferret might have ear mites.
Diagnosis is easy: Your vet will probably take a sample of the wax, and view it under a microscope to look for eggs (you can also do this at home if you know what to look for). Treatment is also simple.
Treatments can include:
Revolution- drops you put on the ferret's neck. It's a simple one time application. Bonus- it also treats fleas
Tresaderm- drops applied into the ferret's ears. Ferrets tend to hate liquid in their ears, and this must be done twice daily.
MitaClear- also applied into the ear. Application is much easier as it's twice over 7-day intervals (two times 7 days apart)
If you are treating for mites, it's a good idea to give all bedding a good wash at least once during treatment, that way any eggs residing in bedding are killed.
I also got this handy tip from a vet: sometimes mites will migrate to the tail, since ferrets tend to sleep in a donut shape, with their tail near their ears. Giving the tail a small amount of treatment might help a particularly stubborn case of mites.
Fleas
Depending on where you live, fleas may also be an issue. Fleas can be very pesky critters, so it's best to prevent them before they happen! If you notice your ferret scratching excessively, scabby lesions, or small specks of dirt (flea dirt), your ferret probably has fleas.
Recommended flea treatments for ferrets include Revolution and Advantage Multi. Revolution hasn't been tested on ferrets specifically, but it's been widely used, and most ferrets respond well to it. Advantage Multi is the only FDA-approved treatment for ferrets.
When using Revolution, I recommend using the kitten/puppy dose, 1 tube per ferret.
Other flea meds such as Advantage Kitten and Frontline can also be used, but I recommend using a lower dose of 1 drop per lb of ferret.
Note: this is the dosing that my vet recommends. Other vets may have differing recommendations. Consult with your vet to determine what dosage is best for your ferrets.
Avoid OTC flea meds such as BioSpot, Hartz, Sargents, etc. Through my work in a pet store, I can confirm that these treatments are not as effective, and that many people have had issues with reactions in their pets. Use at your own risk, and be aware that I do NOT recommend them, ever.
Waardenburgs Syndrome
This is a bit of a different "disease". Waardenburg's isn't an acquired disease, it's congenital, meaning the ferret was born with it. Ferrets with Waardenburgs have a smaller face, wide-set almond shaped eyes, and may have a short tail. They usually have panda or blaze markings, and may have a ring around the tail. Sometimes, the tail is shorter than normal. Almost all Waardy ferrets are deaf. This isn't a bad thing, and a deaf ferret shouldn't be disregarded as a pet, but considerations should be taken while training. Deafies may play rougher, since they can't hear another ferret squeak or squeal. They may need other methods while nip training. As always, lots of patience is needed.
Adrenal Disease
Adrenal disease is caused by tumors on the adrenal gland. It typically starts to appear around age 2, but younger cases have been noted. There are many theories about the cause of adrenal disease, but no single cause has been determined. Early neutering and unnatural light cycles seem to be the most cited causes. In the USA, ferrets sold in pet stores are often neutered at a very young age, sometimes as young as 4-5 weeks. This is thought to create hormone imbalances which later lead to adrenal disease.
As far as light cycles go, the theory is that keeping ferrets in an extended light cycle somehow interferes with the proper functioning of the adrenal gland and may contribute to the development of adrenal disease. It's recommended to give ferrets a dark place to sleep, and if possible, keep them on as natural light cycle as possible.
Symptoms of adrenal disease include: hair loss, lack of appetite, lethargy, aggression, increase in odor, difficulty urinating (males), and a swollen vulva (females). There is a blood test available for adrenal disease (Tennessee Panel) but there have been cases of false positives/negatives. It is more common nowadays to give the ferret a Lupron shot. An improvement of the condition is seen as a positive diagnosis for adrenal.
Treatments for adrenal disease include: surgery, melatonin (only treats symptoms), Lupron injections, and Deslorelin implants. Discuss treatment options with your vet to determine the best method of treatment.
Insulinoma
Insulinoma is cancer of the pancreas. Unfortunately, insulinoma is another common ferret disease. It's most common in ferrets age 2 and up, but cases in younger ferrets have been documented. With insulinoma, insulin production is increased, so there is too much. This causes the blood sugar levels to drop, eventually resulting in a "crash". It's the opposite of human diabetes.
It is thought that feeding fruits, vegetables, and other carbs (yes, including kibble) contribute to insulinoma, which is why it's so important to provide your ferret with a healthy diet.
Symptoms of insulinoma include staring into space, lethargy, hind leg weakness, and acting "drunk". In severe cases it can lead to seizures.
If your ferret goes into an insulinomic episode, you need to bring him out asap with Karo syrup or honey applied to the gums or anus with a q-tip. Once the episode has passed, it is extremely important to follow up with a high protein meal.
The most common treatment is prednisolone, which is typically given with Carafate to help prevent tummy ulcers. Again, diet is extremely important to an insulinomic ferret, and ALL fruits/veggies should be avoided as well as sugary supplements such as FerretVite or Ferretlax. A meat-based kibble such as Wysong, or a fully raw diet is highly recommended.
Lymphoma
Lymphoma are tumors that affect different tissues, lymph nodes, spleen, kidneys, etc. There is not one cause for lymphoma, but many factors may be at play- early neutering, infectious diseases, diet, and genetics are just a few speculations.
There are 2 forms of lymphoma, juvenile and adult.
Juvenile lymphoma tends to be more aggressive, and the prognosis usually isn't as good as adult onset lymphoma. Symptoms can vary, but may include lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, and coughing.
Adult onset lymphoma tends to progress more slowly and some ferrets live a happy life after diagnosis. Symptoms can include loss of appetite, lethargy, diarrhea, weight loss, enlarged spleen, and other various symptoms depending on the organs affected.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for lymphoma. Steps can be taken to slow the progression of the disease (chemotherapy), but the type of lymphoma, progression of the disease, and the general health of the ferret should be taken into consideration before beginning any medication regimen. It's best to discuss potential treatment options with your vet to find the best method for your situation.