Ferrets Flashcards
Ferrets are order __ and family __
Ferrets are order carnivora and family mustelidae
what were ferrets historically used for?
hunting
two basic colors of ferrets
albinos or fitch
male, intact ferret
hob
male neutered ferret
gib
female intact ferret
jill
female spayed ferret
sprite
juvenile ferret
kit
group of ferrets
business
ferret young are __ at birth and reach puberty at __ months
ferret young are altricial at birth and reach puberty at 4-12 months
T/F: If you take the anal glands out of a ferret then you remove the majority of the musk smell
F, If you take the anal glands out they will still smell
male ferret have a __ shaped os penis and the urethral opening is __ at the tip of the penis
male ferret have a J- shaped os penis and the urethral opening is NOT at the tip of the penis
describe the GI tract of ferrets
Short and simple with no cecum, rapid GI transit time
briefly describe the behavior of ferrets
- chew and swallow many things! often come in for foreign bodies
- void in unfamiliar surroundings
briefly describe reproduction in ferrets
- often copulate >1 hour
- seasonally polyestrous/monoestrus induced ovulators
- gestation is 42 days
- 2 litters/year, 5-15 kits
ferrets are strict __ that require a High __ and __ with low __ diet
ferrets are strict carnivores that require a High calorie and protein with low fiber diet
how should you feed a ferret?
Get a commercial ferret diet or in an emergency a cat food diet may work but a dog food diet has too many carbohydrates. Don’t give dairy or raisins
Housing for ferrets
- Ferret proof your house, they love narrow crawl spaces, electrical wires, etc.
- A modified rabbit cage with burrows will work for them.
- They can be housed singly or by sex.
- Susceptible to overheating >32C
what are the 2 most common types of ferret disease?
NEOPLASIA and foreign bodies
what are the two major tumors of ferrets?
pancreatic islet cell and adrenocortical cell
T/F: tumors are more common in spayed females and castrated males
T, insulinomas, adrenal tumors and lymphoma are more common
Pancreatic Endocrine Tumor
Clinical signs referable to hyperinsulinism and hypoglycemia
- various clinical signs, check blood glucose and insulin
- 75% have multiple nodules
- mets to LN, liver and spleen
- usually benign on histo but behaves malignantly
- medical management is freq high protein meals or acute corn syrup
- surgical management
- persistent hypoglycemia is common
Adrenocortical Tumor
- middle aged ferrets
- progressive alopecia in 80%, vulva swelling in 55-89%
- True DX is explore surgery to look at adrenal glands
Acute v Chronic Lymphoma
Acute: rapid progression with lymphocytosis
Chronic: slow progression, lymphopenia
Treatment of lymphoma with chemotherapy, +/- sx intervention usually has remission of __ years
3-5 years
Hyperestrogenic Anemia
- 30-40% mortality rate
- tx with OHE, adrenalectomy, blood transfusion and supportive care
Distemper
Paramyxovirus where signs and death occur rapidly. Hyperkeratosis of foot pads with 100% fatality rate making treatment unwarranted -> euthanize
T/F: ferrets can get heartworm disease (dirofilaria immitis)
T
zootnotic disease of ferrets
influenza, M bovis, rabies, scabies, etc.
what should you vaccinate ferrets for?
distemper and rabies
are rabies vaccines labelled for ferrets?
Yes, there are FDA approved rabies vaccines for ferrets
