Ferrets

Question 1

What is the typical lifespan of ferrets?

Answer 1

5-8 years, mean ~6 years

Question 2

How do you properly restrain a ferret?

Answer 2

Manual restraint and scruffing (induces yawning), support hindlimbs, use treats as bribery

Question 3

What are the normal HR, RR, and temp for a ferret?

Answer 3

HR: 200-400bpm; RR: 33-46bpm; T: 99-104 F

Question 4

Describe ferret skin/fur

Answer 4

Have seasonal hair growth with a fine undercoat and longer guard hairs. They shed less if spayed/neutered. Have scent producing sebaceous glands and 2 anal glands. Lack sweat glands. Common to have ceruminous debris in ears- r/o ear mites.

Question 5

Describe the ferret liver and pancreas

Answer 5

Liver has 6 lobes, pancreas is V-shaped

Question 6

Where is a ferret’s heart located? What blood location site does the heart location enable?

Answer 6

Between ribs 6-8; enables you to get blood from cranial vena cava (must be sedated)

Question 7

What are anesthetic concerns for ferrets?

Answer 7

Hypothermia and hypoglycemia, similar to cats, use re-breathing circuit

Question 8

What are common causes of splenomegaly in ferrets?

Answer 8

Extramedullary hematopoiesis, lymphoma, hemangioma, hemangiosarcoma, or caused by anesthesia/euthanasia

Question 9

Where would you give an injection on a ferret? Where would you collect blood?

Answer 9

SQ injection between shoulder blades with butterfly catheter. Jugular vein used for large blood volume, cranial vena cava used (if sedated), lateral saphenous and cephalic can be used for smaller samples, cardiac can be used for euthanasia. Catheters- femur IO or cephalic

Question 10

How would you sex a ferret?

Answer 10

Look for prepuce (mid-abdomen) and scrotum vs. vulva (1cm ventral to anus)

Question 11

What are housing considerations for ferrets?

Answer 11

Cage needs to be ferret-proof and have solid bottom. Can be litter box trained, anchor litter box so they don’t spill it all over. Clumping litter can lead to eye problems so use pelleted litter. Obligate carnivores so grain free diet can lead to bladder stones.

Question 12

Describe ferret enteric coronavirus

Answer 12

Causes epizootic catarrhal enteritis- highly transmissible with new ferret or fomites, clinical signs beginning in 2-14 days, blunts intestinal vili -> malabsorption -> anorexia, vomiting, green diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy, weight loss. Usually more severe in older ferrets, can take months to recover. Treat supportively with fluids, nutritional support, GI protectants, and broad-spectrum antimicrobials if secondary bacterial infection is suspected. Prevent by quarantining new ferrets and cleaning supplies.

Question 13

Describe fleas in ferrets

Answer 13

Usually dog or cat fleas, treat with Advantage, Frontline, or Revolution. DO NOT used pyrethrins, organophosphates, or carbamates.

Question 14

Describe ear mites in ferrets

Answer 14

Usually otodectes cynotis, transferred by direct contact, usually asymptomatic but may itch. Causes inflammation and dark brown wax. Treat with ivermectin SQ q2 weeks or topically in ear

Question 15

Describe GIFB in ferrets

Answer 15

Can get foreign bodies in stomach or esophagus (harder to diagnose), fairly common

Question 16

Describe helicobacter mustelae in ferrets

Answer 16

Found in stomach and duodenum of ferrets post-weaning. Opportunistic pathogen that can cause gastritis and ulceration. Gastritis often subclinical. Clinical signs can be absent or vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, weight loss, bruxism, dehydration, melena, hypersalivation, etc. may show signs of abdominal pain if ulcers present. Leads to MALT lymphoma predilection. Treat if clinical signs present with antibiotics (metro, amoxicillin, or clarithromycin) +/- omeprazole and sucralfate, treat for 21 days and avoid/reduce stress. Rule out NSAIDs, renal azotemia, foreign bodies, and toxins for ulcer differentials.

Question 17

Describe IBD in ferrets

Answer 17

Common in ferrets, etiologies include food allergies, bacterial overgrowth, etc.

Question 18

Describe hyperestrogenism in ferrets

Answer 18

Occurs in intact or improperly spayed ferrets, causing bone marrow suppression (pancytopenia), anorexia, lethargy, vulvar swelling/discharge, pallor, systolic murmur (anemia), melena, petechial/ecchymotic hemorrhage, alopecia. Die within 1-6 months after estrus due to hemorrhage w/ thrombocytopenia. Treat with spay +/- transfusion.

Question 19

Describe heartworm infection in ferrets

Answer 19

Similar to cats- 1 worm can cause severe disease, microfilaria ~50-60%, can cause mechanical obstruction R CHF, coughing, lethargy, weakness, hypothermia, sudden death. Test with antigen (false negatives) or antibody test, or on necropsy. Need prevention- 1/4 tablet heartgard (ivermectin)- must throw away the rest of the tablet since it won’t keep. Treated slow kill with ivermectin if infected.

Question 20

Describe influenza in ferrets

Answer 20

Type A and B, spread via aerosols, present with lethargy, anorexia, photophobia, conjunctivitis, pyrexia. Can cause lower respiratory issues in neonates and result in secondary bacterial infections and death. Can use antivirals but usually reserved for people. Cough suppressant or aminophylline (bronchodilator) can be used. Humans can spread flu to ferrets.

Question 21

What vaccines should ferrets get?

Answer 21

Imrab3 rabies yearly, Merial ferret purevax distemper (canary pox) yearly

Question 22

Describe ferret adverse reactions to vaccines

Answer 22

Usually itchy, hyperemic, depressed, vomit, diarrhea, dyspneic, pyrexic. Prevent by pre-meding with diphenhydramine 30min prior to vax. Treat with dexamethasone sodium phosphate +/- epinephrine +/- oxygen

Question 23

When do ferrets usually develop cancer?

Answer 23

Around 2 or 3 years old in US, later in Europe possibly due to breeding or castration ages

Question 24

What is the most common type of ferret neoplasia?

Answer 24

Endocrine- insulinoma > adrenocortical carcinoma

Question 25

What is the most common hematopoietic neoplasm of ferrets?

Answer 25

Lymphoma. Thymic- respiratory signs, large thymus, fatal. Multicentric- splenomegaly, treat with prednisolone + CHOP, radiation, diet (critical care). Won’t usually see increased lymphocytes with these, but may see anemia. Diagnose with FNAs from LNs, rads/U/S, biopsy/histology.

Question 26

Describe insulinomas in ferrets

Answer 26

Present with very low BG, nausea, weakness, neuro signs. No gender predilection. Not highly metastatic, respond well to long term management. Can be surgically removed but hard to locate due to size, so may have to do partial pancreactomy or nodulectomy. Medical management has similar survival times to surgical. Give corn syrup to raise BG. Treat with prednisolone then diazoxide (careful not to make them diabetic), change to high fat and protein, low carb diet.

Question 27

Describe adrenocortical neoplasms in ferrets

Answer 27

Present with hair loss (excess estrogen), swollen vulva (F), urinary obstruction from prostate swelling (M), can display mounting, urine marking, and aggression. Does NOT affect cortisol, does NOT cause contralateral atrophy. Diagnose with clinical signs, U/S, measurement of sex steroids. Treat with deslorein implant (lasts 1.5-4 years, tumor still grows) or depot Lupron, or surgery. Right adrenal can grow into caudal vena cava necessitating surgery. Both adrenals can be removed due to having other adrenal tissues in the body. Possible increase in prevalence due to daylight cycle.