Ferrets Flashcards
Taxonomy
Order: Carnivora
Genus: Mustelidae
Species: putorius furo (domestic)
Mustela nigripes
Black footed ferret
Only species native to N. America
Predators that depend on prairie dogs for survival
Lifespan
5-8 years
Age of sexual maturity
4-12 months
Ferret terminology
Female: Jill
Males: Hobs
Baby: kits
Cardiovascular anomaly
Single carotid a.= Innominate a. I from descending a.
GI
Rapid transit time so fasting should be limited to 3 hours before surgery
Male reproductive organs
J- shaped os penis
Tense musculature so needs to be sedated for catheter
Breeding season
March to August
Weight fluctuations up 30-40%
Induced by artificial lighting
Fat increased in fall and lost in spring
Females
Induced ovulators
Remain in estrus until mated or if 12 hours off daylight
Litter size
2-17 (average is 8)
Ocular anatomy
Holangiotic fundus
Sees only red color
Albinos have decreased motion detection
Oto anatomy
Deafiness linked to coat color
Waardenburg syndrome
Spleen
Primary site for hematopoiesis
What are ferret susceptible and resistant to?
S: human, bovine, and avian tuberculosis
R: samonella spp.
Head turn
Central artery allows ferret to maintain blood flow to brain while head turned 180 degrees
Distemper
Ubiquitous, ferret taken outside should have vx
Transmitted by fomites, aerosol and direct contact with secretions
NO TREATMENT
Distemper CS
Progress quickly in young –> death without signs
Anorexia, photophobia, lethargy, resp. discharge, pruritic rash on chin
Influenza
Recovery within 7-14 days
Treatment is supportive and antibiotics for secondary infections
Epizoonotic Catarrhal Enteritis (ECE)
Ferret enteric coronavirus (FREC)
Highly contagious with low morbidity and mortality
Seen in high density housing
Asymptomatic, juveniles illness in adults
Ferret Systemic Coronavirus (FRSCV)
Multifocal white firm nodules throughout mesentery
Mesenteric LN enlarged with nodules
Aleutian disease
Virus transmission by aerosol or contact with infected bodily secretions
Emaciation, icterus, posterior paresis, renal complications
Helicobacter mustelae
In stomach and duodenum after weaning
Opportunistic
Gastritis (auto-abs) , ulcer formation, gastric lymphoma
Definitive diagnosis of Helicobacter
High infection rates, low clin disease prevalence
Bacteria in feces or stomach swab
Endoscopy, biopsy, histology
Lawsonia intracellularis
Causes proliferative bowel disease
Diarrhea, weight loss, rectal prolapse
Treat with chloramphenicol 2x day for 14-21 days
Where is Lawsonia intracellularis seen?
Thickened gut loops/ colon
@ 4-6 months of age
Lab ferrets
Bacterial gastroenteritis
Most common form
Gram-neg bacteria
From stress, poor husbandry
Fungal infections
Microsporum canis
Trichophyton mentagrophytes
Microsporum nanum (pyogranulomatous dermatitis and fungal pododermatitis)
Blastomyces dermatitidis (granulomatous mengoencephalitis)
___________ can causes bone marrow suppression
Hyperrestrogenism
pancytopenia
Hyperadrenocorticism
Early neutering (loss of negative feedback from gonads)
Adrenal Associated Endocrinopathy
Role of photoperiod
Exposed to less definitive seasonal photoperiods
8 hour light increased GnRH and LH production
Treatment of Adrenal Associated Endocrinopathy
Darkness increase (melatonin)
Ferretonin (melatonin implant)
Lupron (GnRH)
Deslorelin (GnRH agonist)
Surgery (only definitive treatment)
Insulinoma
Equal distribution between sexes seen in middle-aged or older
Diagnosed with blood chem
Clinical presentation of insulinoma
Lethargy, ataxia, stargazing, hindlimb weakness, nausea (pytalism and pawing @ mouth)
Heart Failure
Severe cardiac disease
Increased venous pressure, congestion, low cardiac output
Cardiac disease
Congenital (valves, septum, tetralogy of fallot)
Acquired (valvular, dilated cardiomyopathy)
Dilated cardiomyopathy
Increased diameter of diastolic chambers
Decreased contractility and output
