Chase Ferrets

Distemper – ferrets are susceptible to canine distemper. This virus is fatal in ferrets. The dog is the most common source of the virus. Clinical signs include swollen feet, thickened on the pads, eye & nasal discharge, drinking a lot, they will go off food,a rash may occur (under the chin); the ferret may vomit and have convulsions. The incubation period or distemper is seven to none days. If you think your ferret may have contracted distemper veterinary advice should be sort A.S.A.P.

Aleutian disease –AD- This is an immune deficiency disease caused by a parvovirus. This is usually seen in mink. AD can be transmitted both vertically and horizontally, which means it can be passed from parent to offspring and also from meeting other contaminated ferrets. Transmission occurs via body fluid such as blood, urine, saliva, faeces, air borne droplets from coughing or sneezing (up to one metre away). Sharing breeding hobs will most likely guarantee transmission of the disease. Clinical signs may vary: they include black tarry faeces, weight loss, recurrent fevers, aggressiveness, posterior paralysis and eventually death. Death may occur suddenly in stressed animals. There is no cure for this disease but antibiotics and steroids may give temporary relief.  A blood test can be done to confirm the disease.

Botulism – this is a killer in ferrets. It is caused by a bacterium known as clostridium botulinum. This bacterium can be found in contaminated meats. If the meat is off or has not been defrosted correctly it may be contaminated. It attacks the animal’s nervous system. Clinical signs include paralysis of the hind limbs, lethargy, loss of appetite and animal’s vital organs will be affected. If you think your ferret may have botulism veterinary advice should be sort immediately – however it is inevitably fatal depending on the amount eaten. This is not contagious. 

Thiamine deficiency – This occurs when ferrets are fed on a diet rich with thiaminase i.e. eggs, day old chicks, and raw fish. It is most often in young kits, around 8 to 12 weeks of age. Clinical signs include lethargy (lameness or lack of energy), anorexia (thin or wasted appearance), weakness of hind limbs, convulsions and death usually follows within 14 to 21 days. Treatment includes changing the diet and getting your ferret to the veterinary surgeon for immediate treatment. Within hours of the first treatment being administered, the animal should show signs of recovery. Vitamin b supplementation will be required.

Osteodystrophy – This condition is essentially caused by hyperphosphorosis (an excess of phosphorus). This is commonly found in animals that have had a meat intensive diet and little or no calcium supplement. This imbalance between calcium and phosphorus leads to nutritional hyperparathyroidism and so poor calcification of the bones. Most people consider that as ferrets are carnivores, they require a meat intensive diet. The ferrets get a large amount of vegetation and vitamins from eating the intestines of their prey and so they are not strict meat eaters as they get the other minerals and vitamins from within their food. A meat only diet deprives the animal of this source. Clinical signs are apparently well-nourished kits around 42 to 80 days suddenly dying. These kits will often be seen as having weak, soft and deformed bones. They are usually unable to stand and walk with a seal-like gait. Action should be started immediately and may save the lives of these ferrets. The ferret will most likely grow up with deformed spines and limbs (x-raying the ferret will confirm this but can be expensive). Vitamin supplements such as SA-37 powder can be given. Milk substitute (lactol) can be given to young kits when starting to wean, which will also take some stress away from the mother.

Pyometra – is an infected uterus filled with pus. This condition can occur during a pseudo pregnancy (phantom pregnancy). It may also occur after mating with a vasectomised hob, failed pregnancy or having the Jill jab. Clinical signs include anorexia, toxaemic, depression and there may be a smelly vaginal discharge (if there is no discharge it may mean the ferret has a closed pyometra). The uterus can usually be felt on examination as being enlarged. If pyometra is suspected then immediate veterinary treatment should be sort. Fluid therapy can be administered in severe cases before anaesthesia. When the ferret is stable the uterus will be removed under anaesthetic. The best way to prevent this from occurring is to have your Jills speyed.

Zinc toxicity or poisoning – this is usually the result of the use of galvanized feeding and water equipment. Clinical signs include annemia – seen by pale mucous membranes, lethargy and weakness of the hind limbs, eventually leading to liver and kidney failure.

There is no treatment available at this point and the prognosis is poor.

Zinc levels in excess of 500PPM (parts per million) will cause clinical signs in ferrets of any age. Zinc defeiciency however can lead to skin lesions appearing in kits. Normal zinc intake is around 105-215 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. It is advised not to use galvanised water of feeding containers. Care should be taken choosing the type of mesh used on the ferret pens.

Salt poisoning – Salt poisoning can occur when regularly feeding your ferret on a diet that contains naturally high salt levels, fish in brime, ham, bacon, cured meats and many human foods such as crisps and chips.

Clinical signs include the animal becoming, depressed and developing spasms within 24 hours to 96 hours of having eaten the salty diet. Death usually follows shortly after.

If your ferret is showing signs of salt poisoning remove all traces of the salty food and provide plenty of fresh clean water.

Think before giving your ferret any treats that may contain a lot of salt. It may be enjoyed y the animal but will cause more harm than good.

Endoparasites – Such as worms (round worm/tapeworm). The ferret can pick these parasites up from the food they eat, other pets and fleas. If you suspect your ferret have worms consult your veterinary surgeon for suitable worming treatment. If you are worming your other pets you may want to make routine treatment for your ferret as well.

Ectoparasite – Such as fleas, ear mites and ticks. Veterinary treatment should be sought for treatments that will kill the parasites. Frontline spray is used to kill fleas and ticks.  Most medications are not licensed for ferrets due to lack of studies.  We have been using Frontline on our ferrets for 6 years now and have never had any problems.

Ticks can be removed using a tick picker but care should be taken. If you leave the head of the tick in your ferret it can cause a foreign body reaction.

Ear mites should be treated as soon as possible to prevent inner ear problems. Symptoms of an ear mite infestation include a dark waxy exudate in the ear canal, itching and soreness of the ear. Stronghold 15mg spot on can be used but can work out very expensive if treating a number of ferrets. Your vet may choose to use eardrops to drown the mites such as Canural or olive oil.