Ferrets Flashcards
Housing of ferrets
outdoors or indoors
solitary in wild but seem to enjoy company
Weights of ferrets
Jill 500-600g
Hob 1200-1500g
Smell of ferrets
Mainly from sebaceous glands, not anal sacs
Illegal to de-scent in UK
Infectious and parasitic diseases of ferrets (6)
- canine distemper
- influenza
- aleutian disease
- helicobacter mustelae
- ectoparasites
- endoparasites
Canine distemper in ferrets
pyrexia, chin rash, oculo-nasal discharge, collapse
survivors get hyperkeratosis
almost invariably fatal
vaccinate regularly (off-license)
Influenza in ferrets
Easily catch human influenza, and can give it to humans
Signs similar to canine distemper - but no chin rash or hyperkeratosis
But more of them recover
Supportive care if not eating/drinking etc.
Aleutian disease in ferrets
Parvovirus - but not CPV
Posterior paresis and melaena
Often responds to supportive Tx
Depends on the severity of the systems and the body’s own response
Confirm by serology or virus isolation
Rarely seen since the end of mink farming
Most ferrets recover, most mink die
Helicobacter mustelae in ferrets
Gastric ulceration mainly in young ferrets
Melaena, vomiting
Weight loss
Differentials re foreign bodies, tumours, gastroenteritis
Treatable with penicillins
Ectoparasites in ferrets
Otodectes cynotis (ear mites)
- flush and clean
- may need topic antiparasitic
Ctenocephalides felis
- treat household
Ixodes ricinus
- especially if going outside
Sarcoptes scabei var: canis
- intense pruritis
- alopecia
Endoparasites in ferrets
Toxocara cati
Toxascaris leonina
Didylidium caninum
Taeniae spp (not common)
Echniococcus multilocularis - QV PETS
Dirofilaria immitus - NOT UK
Parasiticides for ferrets
For oral wormers use cat tablets off license
Ensure ferret has been weighed
Licensed spot on therapies
Endocrine disease in ferrets (4)
- oestrogen induced immunosuppression
- hyperadrenocorticism
- insulinoma
- diabetes mellitus
Oestrogen induced immunosuppression in ferrets
They are reflex ovulators, must be mated to come out of oestrus
Hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets
Really important!
Seen in neutered animals, so neutering no longer recommended
In females more than males, but in both
Bilaterally symmetrical alopecia
Pruritus
Vulval swelling
Strong link in neutered animals due to hormone feedback loops
Surgically remove affected adrenal, or use suprelorin implant
Insulinoma in ferrets
Very common
Dozy ferret, ataxic, floppy, not that interested in anything etc.
Glucometer reading under 3mmol/l
Very hard to see on ultrasound
Feed often, remove tumour surgically, use preds
Diabetes mellitus in ferrets
Very often dietary linked
Glucose over 20 mmol/l
Splenomegaly in ferrets
Spleen is huge anyway
Problem if causing a problem or an abnormal shape
Common differentials are lymphoma or hyperplasia
FNA
Extramedullary haemopoiesis
Lymphadenitis tend to turn to lymphoma at some point
Can do a splenectomy- big effect on blood capacity and potentially immune system
Lymphoma in ferrets
Commonest tumour after insulinoma and adrenal adenomas/adenocarcinomas
Lymphocyte count over 3.5 x 109 suggestive
Lymph nodes may be raised
Treatment is possible - chemotherapy/steroids
Catheter in jugular?
Skin tumours in ferrets
Can see many types
Mast cell tumours are the most common - appear as pruritic scabby lesions
Heart disease in ferrets
Often dilated cardiomyopathy in older ferrets
ACE inhibitors
§ Or pimobendan
§ Or digoxin/digitoxin (historically)
Take care with diuretics because ferrets are small and you can induce hypoproteinaemia
Dental disease in ferrets
Similar to cats and dogs
Particularly if on wet food
Treat as with dogs/cats
Diet often contributes to tooth decay
Castration and vasectomy in ferrets
Testes are intra-abdominal in the winter
Castration dramatically reduces the ferret smell
Vasectomy may be required by owners of working ferrets - brings females out of oestrus still so they dont need implants, but mating is aggressive (bite females) so can cause wounds/trauma
Consider implant
Send Vas deferens for histopathology to ensure the right things have been taken out, and gives assurance it has been done if they re-attach. Remove as long a bit as possible
Spaying ferrets
Try to avoid it, unless owner insists or other reason
Broad ligament nearly always full of fat
Make a large enough midline incision to be sure you have all of both ovaries
But try to persuade owner to go with implant instead
Abscesses in ferrets
Very common
Causes: fighting (don’t keep entire males together), foreign bodies (grass seeds etc.)
Give antibiotics for longer than you would a dog or cat
