Ferrets

Question 1

What is the normal heart rate of a ferret?

Answer 1

180-260 bpm

Question 2

What is the normal resp rate of a ferret?

Answer 2

33-36 brpm

Question 3

Where would you listen to a ferret’s heart?

Answer 3

6th-8th rib (more caudal than other species)

Question 4

What is the one accessory sex gland that ferrets have?

Answer 4

Prostate

Question 5

Why do ferrets have discoloured fur?

Answer 5

Sebaceous glands

Question 6

What normal occurrence may happen to ferrets in the summer months?

Answer 6

Seasonal weight loss (40%) and hair thinning

Question 7

Enlargement of what organ is common and usually insignificant?

Answer 7

Spleen

Question 8

Vulval swelling in females is associated with what?

Answer 8

Oestrus (if intact)
Adrenal gland disease (if neutered)
Ovarian remnant (if neutered; rare)

Question 9

What should ferrets be vaccinated against?

When?

Answer 9

Distemper
Give half the canine dose of vaccination
Can catch from dogs
Vaccinate at 6-8 weeks old, then every 3-4 weeks until 14 weeks old, then annually

Question 10

What is the normal rectal temp of a ferret?

Answer 10

37.8 - 40 oC

Question 11

Where is the easiest place to take blood from?

Answer 11

Anterior vena cava/ proximal jugular vein

Question 12

Where can you give im injections?

Answer 12

Quadriceps

Epaxial muscle

Question 13

Is ferret urine acidic or alkaline?

Answer 13

Acidic

Question 14

What are the maintenance fluid requirements of a ferret?

Answer 14

75-100ml/kg/day

Question 15

What is the gestation period of a ferret?

Answer 15

41-43 days

Question 16

Give the clinical signs of Distemper in ferrets

Answer 16

Chin rash, dermatitis of perineum, anorexia, pyrexia, depression, photophobia, blepharospasm
Mucopurulent oculonasal discharge followed by coughing and sneezing
Also foot pad swelling and hyperkeratosis
Fatal

Question 17

What causes ‘lumpy jaw’ type lesions in ferrets?

How do you treat it?

Answer 17

Arcanobacterium pyogenes

High dose penicillin or tetracyclines

Question 18

Which skin tumours are relatively common in ferrets?

Answer 18

Mast cell tumours (well-circumscribed, raised, hairless nodules that can become ulcerated)
Sebaceous epitheliomas and adenomas (pedunculated/plaque-like masses that can become ulcerated)

Question 19

How can ferret fur change during the breeding season?

Answer 19

Can get bilaterally symmetric alopecia of the tail, perineum and inguinal area

Question 20

Give some clinical signs of adrenal gland disease

Answer 20

Bilateral symmetrical alopecia, pruritus, vulval swelling

Castrates males: sexual behaviour, urethral obstruction secondary to prostatic hyperplasia, large prostatic cysts

Question 21

Define adrenal gland disease in ferrets

Answer 21

Associated with adrenocortical hyperplasia, adenoma or adenocarcinoma
Occurs in middle-aged ferrets
Correlation between neutering and age at time of diagnosis (3.5 years later)

Question 22

How do you diagnose adrenal disease in ferrets?

Answer 22

US (enlarged adrenal glands)

May be raised plasma androgens, oestradiol or hydroxyprogesterone levels

Question 23

How do you treat adrenal gland disease in ferrets?

Answer 23

Surgical removal of glands and/or long-term hormonal therapy (Desorelin implants- GnRH agonist)

Question 24

How does hyperoestrogenism occur in neutered females?

Answer 24

Ferrets are induced ovulators (ovulate 30-40 hours after mating)
Failure to mate -> prolonged oestrus -> hyperoestrogenism -> bone marrow suppression -> aplastic anaemia and pancytopenia
Can also occur with adrenal neoplasia

Question 25

How do you treat hyperoestrogenism in ferrets?

Answer 25

Bring out of season: mate with neutered male, HCG, proligestone, or Desorelin implant
IV fluids, nutritional support, iron, vitamin
Blood transfusion if PCV<15% (normal= 47-59%)

Question 26

How do you prevent hyperoestrogenism in ferrets?

Answer 26

Mating with a neutered male

‘Jill jab’ (proligestone) or deslorelin implants (GnRH agonist)

Question 27

Insulinomas are common in which age of ferrets?

Answer 27

Middle aged

Question 28

Give some acute and chronic clinical signs of an insulinoma in ferrets

Answer 28

Acute: collapse, recumbency, depression, hypersalivation, ‘glassy-eyed’ appearance
Chronic: gradual weakness (particularly HLs), lethargy, ataxia, +/- weight loss and reduced appetite

Question 29

How do you diagnose an insulinoma in ferrets?

Answer 29

History, clinical signs, low blood glucose levels , high/normal blood insulin levels

Question 30

How do you treat an insulinoma in ferrets?

Answer 30

Non-curative
Surgery: nodulectomy or partial pancreatectomy
Medical: oral prednisolone or diazoxide (reduces insulin secretion) BID

Question 31

Give some clinical signs of foreign body ingestion

Answer 31

Anorexia, weight loss, lethargy, diarrhoea, ptyalism, pawing at mouth

Question 32

What is the causal agent of gastroduodenal ulcers?

Answer 32

Helicobacter mustelae

Question 33

Give some clinical signs of gastroduodenal ulcers

Answer 33

Anorexia, lethargy, melaena, teeth grinding, diarrhoea, ptyalism, abdominal pain, may have ulcerations on hard palate

Question 34

How do you treat gastroduodenal ulcers?

Answer 34

Metronidazole and amoxicilin
Ranitidine, cimetidine or sucralfate can also be give
Supportive care

Question 35

What is the most commonly seen parasite in ferrets?
What does it cause?
How do you treat it?

Answer 35

Coccidia
Can cause severe diarrhoea and rectal prolapse in young animals
Tx: sulfa drugs or Toltrazuril

Question 36

What causes proliferative enteritis?
What clinical signs would you see?
How do you treat it?

Answer 36

Lawsonia intracellularis
Acute: colitis with green blood-flecked diarrhoea
Chronic: diarrhoea, haematochezia, anorexia, weight loss, rectal prolapse
Tx: ABs eg tetracyclines, supportive care

Question 37

What would you suspect in a ferret with ataxia, paresis, tarry faeces and weight loss?
Can it be treated?

Answer 37

Aleutian disease of ferrets (parvovirus)
No treatment or vaccine
Euthanise severely-affected animals