Ferrets Flashcards
What family do ferrets come from?
Mustelidae
Are ferrets closely related to mongoose?
NO
What sort of diet do ferrets need?
Strict carnivores
What should you remember about their mouths (2 things)?
Dental disease similar to cats, broken canines
What is a common GI disease ferrets get?
Gastric and duodenal ulcers
What bacteria is a problem for ferret GIs?
Helicobacter
What are ferrets a good model to test?
Anti-emetics
What is unique about their GIT?
Have jejuno-ileum b/c can’t differentiate the two
Do ferrets have a cecum?
No
What can affect intestinal motility in the ferret?
Cervical (mechanical from scruffing) vagal stimulation
What are 2 common causes of acute gastric ulcers?
FB
Toxins
What is a common causes of chronic gastric ulcers?
Infectious disease
What organism is a very common cause of gastritis?
Helicobacter mustelae
What are 5 clinical signs of Helicobacter gastritis?
Bruxism Ptyalism Anorexia Chronic weight loss Melena
Do you expect vomiting with Helicobacter gastritis?
No, but can see blood-tinged vomit sometimes
How is Helicobacter gastritis diagnosed (2 ways)?
Fecal occult blood (remember carnivorous diet though)
CBC (regenerative anemia)
What makes it difficult to diagnose Helicobacter (2 things)
Difficult to culter
Endemic
What 4 things do you give to treat Helicobacter gastritis?
Abx (Metronidazole)
PPI (Sucralfate)
Mucosal protectant (Pepto)
H2 Receptor agonist (Famotidine or Ranitidine)
If you give Pepto to ferrets as a mucosal protectant, what do you need to be aware of?
NSAIDs in Pepto
What are clinical signs for FB?
Similar to that in other animals
What aer 3 ways you can dx a FB in a ferret?
Palpation
Radiographs
Exploratory
What 4 methods can be used to treat a FB?
Lubricants
Antibiotics
Fluids
Sx when needed
How does a hairball look on RADs with contrast?
See a stringy effect
What do you need to get in cases of ferret diarrhea?
A detailed history (where ferret came from, description of diarrhea, home environment, behaviour)
What are 6 causes of diarrhea?
FB Viral Dietary indiscretion IBD Proliferative bowel dz Lymphoma
What major virus causes diarrhea?
Corona virus causes ECE (epizootic catarrhal enteritis)
NOTE: Similar to FIP
What 2 bacteria cause proliferative bowel dz?
Campylobacter
Lawsonia
What is IBD usually?
Lymphoblastic
What are 4 possible causes of IBD?
Genetics
Food allergy
Prednisone (can allow Helicobacter overgrowth)
Azothiaprine and metronidazole (both immunosuppressive) and Vit B12
What type of diarrhea do you see with ECE?
Profuse, mucoid, green slime
What causes Epizootic catarrhal enteritis?
Coronavirus
What ferrets are susceptible to ECE?
Older ferrets
What 3 clinical signs will you see with ECE?
Lethargy
Dehydration
Anorexia
What does ferret systemic coronavirus resemble?
Looks like FIP b/c causes pyogranulomatous inflammation in peritoneum, liver, kidneys, pancreas etc.
If you have mucoid stool, what should you think of?
Parasites
If you have melena, what 3 things should you think of?
FB
Hairball
Ulcer
If you have other abnormal stool forms, what should you think of?
Metabolic dz
IDB
Where is the ferret lung field?
From 1st-10th intercostal space
How many ribs do ferrets have?
14
How many sternebrae do ferrets have?
9
How are lungs divided in the ferret?
Same as dogs and cats
Left - cranial and caudal lobes
Right - cranial, middle, caudal and accessory
What must you remember with ferret influenza?
Can get it from humans, so make sure owners know that sick people should stay away from ferret or at least wear a mask
How long does ferret influenza last?
7-14 days
What 4 things can you give to treat ferret influenza?
Support
Antihistamines
Cough suppressants
Prophylactic abx (prevent progression to pneumonia)
What are 3 causes of pneumonia in ferrets?
Aspiration (meds or vomit)
Bordatella
Pasturella
How do you treat ferret pneumonia (2 drugs)?
TMS
Chloramphenical
How can you prevent pneumonia?
Separate from sick dogs/separate boarding facilities
What dz is fatal in ferrets?
Canine distemper
NOTE: NOT TX, MUST VACCINATE
How fast does distemper progress?
12-42 days
What are 3 ways distemper is transmitted?
Direct contact
Fomites
Aerosolization
What are 5 major clinical signs of distemper?
Anorexia Pyrexia Chin dermatitis Nasoocular discharge Hardpad (hyperkeratosis)
What can you see in the CNS with Distemper?
Non-suppurative encephalitis/demyelination
How do you dx a ferret with heartworm (2 ways)?
Echo
Snap test
What clinical signs will you see with HW?
Similar to dog
What two things can you use to treat HW in a ferret?
Thiacetarcemide
Ivermectin plus steroids
How do you prevent HW in ferrets (2 ways)?
Heartgard
Feline Revolution off label