Ferret Husbandry & Diseases Flashcards
What order are domestic ferrets a part of?
Carnivora (same as cats)
Give the correct terminology for the following ferret type:
- intact male
- intact female
- neutered male
- spayed female
- juvenile ferret
- group of ferrets
- intact male = HOB
- intact female = JILL
- neutered male = GIB
- spayed female = SPRITE
- juvenile ferret = KIT
- group of ferrets = BUSINESS
T/F: female ferrets are larger than their male counterparts
false – males are larger. though both sexes eat more and gain weight in the winter
Ferrets have (altricial/precocial) young.
altricial
meaning they are born with their eyes and ears closed and require intense mothering care.
What is the lifespan of a ferret?
5-8 years
T/F: ferrets do not have a cecum
true
What is responsible for the musky smell of ferrets?
anal glands (majority of the smell, but NOT all so sacculectomy will NOT eliminate the smell completely)
Adrenal gland surgery is difficult in ferrets and should only be performed by competent, confident surgeons who are aware of the risks. Why is this surgery so risky?
the adrenal glands are adhered to the vena cava
Why must you consider anatomy differently when deciding to place a urinary catheter in a male ferret?
their urethral opening is NOT at the tip of their penis.
Ferrets are naturally curious and inquisitive, but often put themselves at risk for foreign bodies because …
they chew and swallow MANY things.
T/F: ferrets are not litter box trainable
false – they are! but they will still void in unfamiliar surroundings unless trained not to do so.
T/F: ferrets sleep 6-12 hours per day and therefore make great pets for children who desire playing with them mostly during the day
false – they sleep 16-18 hours a day.
What is the diet of ferrets?
ferrets are STRICT carnivores
They require high protein, high calorie, low-fiber diets.
They have very minimal ability to digest complex CHOs and fiber, thus minimizing these things in their diet is important.
You have a client who recently acquired a new ferret. They bring him in to have him professionally bathed because they complain that he stinks. They report that they’ve given him 2-3 baths per week in an attempt to get rid of the smell, but it hasnt helped and now he has flaky skin. What is likely the issue here?
Well… ferrets stink. You cannot bathe them to get rid of the smell. They should especially not be bathed any more often than once every 3-4 weeks. The flaky skin is a result of drying the skin out.
T/F: ferrets are incredibly sensitive to overheating
true
what are the 2 most appropriate blood collection methods in ferrets?
jugular
cranial vena cava
What are the 3 most common neoplasias in ferrets?
- pancreatic islet cell***
- adrenocortical cell
- lymphoma
others: mast cell, basal cell, sebaceous gland, chordoma, misc.
At what age does neoplasia most commonly occur in ferrets?
4-7 years (mid-life) and is more common in spayed/castrated animals.
what are the clinical signs associated with / caused by in a case of pancreatic endocrine tumor (insulinoma) in a ferret?
- hyperinsulinism
- hypoglycemia
signs will be mental dullness, tremors, seizures, coma, collapse, tachycardia, hypothermia, hypersalivation, pawing at the mouth, posterior paresis
How do you diagnose and treat pancreatic endocrine tumors in ferrets?
Diagnose by LOW blood glucose (<70), HIGH insulin (>250), and ancillary tests (AUS, increased ALT/AST)
Treatment is medical management – small frequent high protein meals, corn syrup during acute episodes; or surgical management (only palliative; MST 10-15 months)
How is adrenocortical neoplasia different in ferrets than in dogs?
adrenal gland tumors in ferrets create disease that is NOT pituitary in origin; hyperadrenocorticism in dogs can be.
Which of the following is FALSE about adrenocortical tumors in ferrets?
A. most common in middle-aged ferrets
B. cause progressive alopecia, vulvar swelling, male sexual behavior, pruritus, stranguria, and muscle wasting
C. is diagnosed by ultrasound, anemia/pancytopenia, elevated ALT, or ACTH stim test
D. treatment is solely medical management with gnRH agonists and results in good prgnosis
D. treatment is solely medical management with gnRH agonists and results in good prognosis
surgical treatment (adrenalectomy) is the best treatment, but is difficult to do; prognosis is still poor for these patients.
How do you differentiate young-ferret lymphoma versus older-ferret lymphoma?
young ferrets will have acute onset with lymphocytosis
older ferrets will have chronic onset with lymphopenia
what are the treatment options for lymphoma in ferrets?
chemo +/- surgical intervention
remission is 3m-5yr so may definitely be worth it.
better responses are seen with young ferrets with mediastinal masses, spleen, skin, or peripheral lymph node neoplasia
What are the MOST common skin tumor of ferrets?
- mast cell tumors
- basal cell tumors
TOC is excision; they are mostly benign.
T/F: hyperestrogenic anemia in ferrets has a high mortality rate
true – you should diagnose and treat quickly to avoid death.
TOC is OHE, adrenalectomy (goal: remove the source of estrogen); ensure to stabilize prior to surgery (stim ovulation with GnRH and give blood transfusion if needed)
T/F: you must blood type ferrets prior to transfusions
false – not needed; they dont have blood groups so you can give them any ferret blood.
Which of the following is FALSE about canine distemper virus in ferrets?
A. its a paramyxovirus
B. signs develop in 7-10 days
C. death occurs within 7-10 days
D. 100% fatality rate
E. causes mucopurulent nasoocular discharge and hyperkeratotis foot pads
F. treatment is unrewarding and unwarranted.
C. death occurs within 7-10 days
death occurs within 12-25 days
Which zoonotic disease should you be aware of that can pass from human to ferret, ferret to ferret, and from ferret to human?
influenza
what specific blood test should be included in a ferrets regular physical exam?
blood glucose in order to establish normal levels in that particular animal which supports trends that may appear later on if that animal develops a pancreatic endocrine tumor or be able to detect hypoglycemia early on.
which 2 vaccines should ferrets get annually (and possibly more often depending on the current ferret recommendations)?
- rabies
- distemper
