Ferrets Flashcards
Who are the “smelly little thiefs”?
Ferrets
- Mustela putorius furo*
- Mustela nigripes* - US indigenous, protected in Midwest
A Ferret comes into the clinic, and you diagnose it with Influenza. Where did it most likey get the virus?
From the Owner
What is the average life span of a ferret?
7-8 years
What kind of activity/foraging behavior do ferrets exhibit?
Crepuscular
Active at twilight
What is Waardenburg Sydrome?
A color-linked congential deafness seen in blaze and panda ferrets
the often bite because they are easily startled
You see this tattoo while examining a ferret.
Where was it bred and what do you know about it now?
Bred from Marshal Farms - North Rose, NY
It has been neutered and descented
T/F: Ferrets are near-sighted, have a good sense of smell and a flat skull
True
What is this doctor listening to on this ferret?
The heart.
It sits more caudally than the typical elbow landmark.
Ferrets have a (large/small) lung capacity and (large/small) diameter airways,
Ferrets have a large lung capacity and large diameter airways,
What is the avergae HR of a ferret?
What does a normal ECG look like?
HR 180-230
Tall R Waves
Normal to have a sinus arrhythmia
Abnormal but common: AV Block
How would you classify a ferret’s diet?
Strictly Carnivorous
T/F: Ferrets lack a cecum and have a GI transit time of ~3 hours.
True
What characteristics should you look for in a ferret diet?
High protein (35-40%)
High fat (15-20%)
Low fiber (<3%)
How do you weigh a ferret?
In grams, with a gram scale
Name 4 injectable sedatives that can be used in ferrets
Butorphanol (AKA torbugesic - long lasting)
Midazolam (Flumazinel reversal)
Dexmeditomadine (Atipamezole reversal) (AKA Dexdormitor and Anti-sedan)
Alfaxalone
What happens if you give a ferret CDV vaccine made for dogs?
They can contract CDV. Must use a vaccine made for ferrets!
Must be modified live monovalent vaccine
When do we vaccinate ferrets for canine distemper virus?
At 12 and 16 weeks
My ferret likes to hang out with the local raccoon. I noticed that after a week of playing with the raccon, his foot pads are becoming thickened and his skin is kind of an orange/red. What should my veterinarin do to diagnose his problem?
Look for inclusion bodies in a skin biopsy
Sounds like Canine distemper :(
T/F: Ferrets need to be vaccinated every 3 years for rabies.
Depends ..
They can get the vaccine yearly, but it depends on local laws and prevelance of the disease in your area.
Vaccine reactions are very common in ferrets. How long after giving a vaccine does the reaction typically occur?
Within 30 minutes
We can pre-medicate with antihistamines
We can give antihistamines and steroids after if a reaction occurs.
What are 5 venipuncture sites on a ferret?
- Cephalic Vein
- LAteral Saphenous
- Cranial vena cava
- Jugular vein
- Tail vein?
When taking blood on a ferret, what should you add to the needel because of thier slow blood flow?
What does this mean about blood testing?
Add heparin to the syringe to prevent blood clot
Cant do CBC if heparin used, but can do chemistry
What pH does ferret urine usually run?
5.5-6.5
Common to have crystal formation
T/F: Urinary Tract Obstruction is a common emergency that is more prevelant in male ferrets than female ferrets
True
Some causes are Urolithiasis, Prostatomegaly, Adrenal Dz
What are 4 routes used to administer fluids in a ferret?
SQ - divided TID
IV - slow drip or CRI
IO - slow bolus or CRI
IP
T/F: If a ferret has been vomiting, has hypoglycemia or moderate azotemia, an IV Catheter is indicated.
True
What is the maintenance fluid rate for a ferret?
75 ml/kg/day
dont forget to convert grams to kgs
What are some fluids used for fluid therapy in ferrets?
LRS
Dextrose: 2.5-20%
using a buretrol mini drip or CRI
What can IO catheters be used to transfuse?
Blood transfusion
Dextrose administration
T/F: A ferret can recieve blood from 10 different ferrets beause they have no blood groups.
True
How much blood can be drawn from a ferret?
maximum of 10% of circulating blood volume
but try to avoid taking that much
Intact female ferrets experience persistent estrus leading to estrogen toxicity. What does estrogen toxicity cause suppression of?
bone marrow
What two locations can you take a bone marrow sample from in a ferret?
Femur
Iliac crest
T/F: It is normal for ferrets to have a large spleen
True
But if they have symtpoms that seem spleen related, best to check on it.
T/F: Ferrets normally have extramedullary hematopoiesis in their spleen
True
But if the spleen is causing a probem, it can safely be removed and they can still make RBCs
What are 4 problems we can diagnose on histopathology of the spleen?
Extramedullary hematopoeisis
Lymphosarcoma
Hemangiosarcoma
Hematoma
What size needle and syringe do we use for splenic aspiration?
25 g needle with a 6 cc syringe
T/F: Ferrets experience many side effects from numerous drugs.
False
They tolerate most drugs very well, at dog doses.
T/F: Ferrets need a high dose of parenteral opioids to achieve sedative effects
False
Ferrets are very sensitive to sedative effects of parenteral opioids
What age do we start to see dental disease in ferrets?
~3 years old
1-2 years old we start to see tartar
T/F: Hard kibble damages the ferrets enamel and predisposes them to tartar
True
A ferrets comes in feeling nauseous, where should you check for ulcers?
The roof of their mouth,
They scratch the roof of their mouth when feeling nauseous and can cause ulcers.
Most ferrets have Helicobacter and are typically asymptomatic carriers unless stressed. Where does this bacteria colonize?
Pylorus and Duodenum
What are some clinical signs of ulcers in the ferret?
Melena
Bruxism
Ptyalism
Anorexia/inappetance
Chronic weight loss
vomiting is UNCOMMON
How can you differentiate between the dark color of melena and bile?
smush it onto a white papertowel.
Melena will have a red tinge
Bile with have a green tinge
What is the fancy doctor term for teeth grinding?
Bruxism
How do we diagnose Helicobacter as the cause of your ferrets ulcer?
Gastric or duodenal mucosal biopsy combined with silver stains (Warthin-Starry)
PCR swab of mucosa
Typically we are treating based on clincical signs.
What “Triple Therapy” is the treatment used for Helicobacter in ferrets?
Amoxicillin + Metronidazole (Flagyl) + Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto)
Also will usually give fluids, famotidine, sucralfate and clarithromycin
What age groups of ferrets are most represented for GI foreign bodies?
<2 yrs & >3 yrs
Older/younger ferrets normally have GIFB from rubber pieces while older/younger ferrets have GIFB from trichobezoars
Younger ferrets normally have FB from rubber pieces while older ferrets have FB from trichobezoars
What are some clinical signs associated with GIFB in ferrets?
Acute or chronic signs
Anorexia/weight loss
diarrhea
melena
acutley weak
vomiting is NOT COMMON
How do we diagnose GIFB in ferrets?
Clinical signs
abdominal palpation
RADs +/- contrast
Exploratory Surgery
What is the prognosis of GIFB in ferrets?
Good Prognosis in most cases
How to we tx GIFB in ferrets?
Medical: Supportive Care, fluids, lubricant, abx
Surgery if needed
What are some causes of diarrhea in ferrets? Name 5 mentioned in class.
- Dietary indiscretion
- FB
- Enteric Coronavirus
- Inflammatory Bowel Dz
- Intestinal Lymphoma
What is the etiology of “epizootic catharrhal enteritis” or “green slime diarrhea”?
Enteric Coronavirus (ECE)
T/F: ECE has a low mortality and mordbidity rate, with young ferrets being susceptible and older ferrets being carriers.
False
ECE has a low mortality and mordbidity rate, with young ferrets being carriers and older ferrets being susceptible.
Name two diseases that cause a chronic malabsoprtion syndrome in ferrets.
ECE and Inflammatory Bowel Dz
A ferret comes into your clinic with “bird seed” tan diarrhea. After your PE and some testing, you diagnose the ferret with inflammatory bowel disease. What should you warn the client about as being a possible sequela of this disease?
Lymphoma
Chronic inflammation can lead to lymphoma (MALT)
What are two common endocrine diseases we see in ferrets?
Hyperadrenalcorticism & Insulinoma
T/F: Most ferrets have unilateral or bilateral adrenal disease, which is related to being spayed/neutered.
True
How does spaying/neutering your ferret lead to adrenal disease?
Interuption of the P-A-G axis leads to adrenal gland producing sex hormones.
The pituitary stimulates the adrenal gland in the abscence of the gonads by way of its sex hormone producing receptors.
This leads to a hormone producing tumor: hyperplasia of the adrenal gland (hyperadrenalcorticism) –> adenoma –> adenocarcinoma.
Which steroids does the adrenal gland produce in excess in a ferret with hyperadrenalcorticism?
Progesterones, Androgens, Estrogens
Cortisol is produced at normal levels, they do NOT have Cushing’s Dz
What are some clinical signs or Hyperadrenalcorticism in ferrets?
Hair-loss
Pruitus
Swollen vulva (r/o intact female)
Prostatomegaly (usually small, enlarges from adrenal androgens and becomes cystic, leads to urinary obstruction)
Stronger smell
Sexual behavior
When you palpate a “double bladder” in a ferret, what are you worried about?
Prostatic Enlargement/Disease
How do we treat hyperadrenalcortcism in ferrets?
Adrenalectomy and/or monthly Leuprolide/Lupron injections
Treats, does not cure
Same drug given to egg bound birds
Which side would you usually do a subtotal adrenalectomy in a ferret?
Right
This ferret has hyperadrenalcortisism. What stage is it in when we start to see petechial hemmorhages on the skin?
End-stage Dz
How long does a Deslorelin Implant (Virbac) work against hyperadrenalcorticism in ferrets?
Implant can last 12-24 months
What kind of tumor is an Insulinoma?
Pancreatic Beta Cell Carcinoma
An insulinoma is a controallable, slowly progessive disease thats causes (hypo/hyper)glycemia
An insulinoma is a controallable, slowly progessive disease thats causes hypoglycemia
A 6 year old ferret comes into your clinic with presenting complaints of intermintent weaknes in the rear end, drooling, inappetance, hard to wake up and the owner thinks the ferret may have had a a seziure. You obtain a fasting blood glucose level of 50 (<60 abnormal). Your working diagnosis is Insulinoma. You decide to see if the ferret responds to medical therpay. What drugs might you try?
1st start Prednisone: gluconeogenic
Later start Diazoxide: insulin blocker
Low carb diet
Good prognosis if responds to medical therapy
Which brand of prednisone do ferrets seem to prefer?
Pediapred
Brand name of Diazoxide is Proglycem
What are 4 common tumors of Ferrets?
- Adrenal Tumors
- Insulinomas
- Lymphosarcomas
- Mast Cell Tumors (skin)
Mast Cell Tumors, which can be itchys and bloody, have a good prognosis with surgical removal. Why?
Benign and do not metastisize
Very common only in the skin
T/F: Lymphosarcoma is a multicentric disease that is common in both young and older ferrets.
True
How do we Diagnose and Stage LSA in ferrets?
Diagnose with tissue biopsy or aspirate
Stage with bone marrow
CBC not always helpful
When treating LSA in ferrets, chemotherapy is an option. What are the drugs used in the COP protocol?
Cyclophosphamide (cytoxan)
Vincristine (oncovin)
Prednisolone
What is a palliative treatment for LSA in ferrets?
Prednisone
T/F: Ferrets can have DCM, HCM and/or occult heart worm disease?
True
