Ferrets Flashcards
What is the average lifespan of a pet ferret?
7-8 years
When are ferrets active/what is this called?
Crepuscular
Active at twilight
What are the unique skeletal features of the ferret?
- Long and narrow
- Flexible conformation
- Flat skull
- Compliant ribcage
What are the unique senses features of the ferret?
- Near-sighted
- Keen sense of smell
What is Waardenburg Syndrome?
color-linked congenital deafness in white-faced ferrets
- Blaze and Panda
What are the unique features of the respiratory system in the ferret?
- Large lung capacity
- Large diameter airways
What is the average heart rate of a ferret?
180-230 bpm
What is the number 1 ECG problem found in ferrets?
AV block
Which heart condition is common and normal in the ferret?
sinus arrhythmia
Describe the appropriate diet for a ferret
- Strict carnivore
- High protein
- High fat
- Low fiber
- Avoid grain-free
Describe the unique features of the ferret GI tract
- short GI transit
- no cecum
- simple gut flora
What are the restraint techniques used with the ferret?
- scruff
- nutrical: high sugar paste
- chemical: iso, sevo, injectables
What drugs are used as injectable/chemical restraints in the ferret?
- Torbugesic
- Midazolam
- Dexdormitor
- Alfaxalone
Which vaccines are needed in a ferret?
Canine Distemper
Rabies
What are the symptoms/signs of CDV in a ferret?
- orange tint to skin
- crusting on mucocutaneous junctions
- hard pads
- neurological signs
Which sites can be used for venipuncture in the ferret?
- cephalic vein
- lateral saphenous
- cranial vena cava
- jugular
How is a cranial vena cava venipuncture performed?
- blind stick along manubrum of sternum
- rigid restraint needed
Urinary tract obstruction in ferrets
- common emergency
- males
- urolithisais
- prostatomegaly
- difficult to pass catheter
Which pathways can fluid be administered in the ferret?
SC, IV, IO, IP
What are the indications for an IV catheter in the ferret?
- Vomiting
- Hypoglycemia
- Moderate azotemia
- Blood transfusions
- Chemotherapy
- Long surgical procedures
What are the indications for a splenic aspiration in the ferret?
- splenomegaly
- irregular spleen
- abnormal US
- anemia of unknown etiology
- lymphosarcoma
Where does H. mustelae colonize in the ferret?
- pylorus and duodenum
- mainly greater antrum of stomach
What are the clinical signs of H. mustelae infection?
- melena
- bruxism and ptyalism
- anorexia or inappetance
- vomiting uncommon
- chronic weight loss
How is H. mustelae infection diagnosed?
- gastric/duodenal mucosal biopsy
- silver stains
- PCR swab of mucosa
- clinical signs
How is H. mustelae infection treated?
- triple therapy
- amoxicillin + metronidazole
- bismuth subsalicyclate
- sucralfate
- clarithromycin
What are the clinical signs of a gastric foreign body in the ferret?
- anorexia and weight loss
- diarrhea, melena
- acutely weak
- vomiting not common
How are gastric foreign bodies treated?
- supportive care
- fluids, lubricants, antibiotics
- surgery if needed
What are possible causes of diarrhea in ferrets?
- dietary indiscretion
- foreign body
- coronavirus
- IBS
- intestinal lymphoma
What is another name for viral diarrhea in ferrets?
Epizootic catarrhal enteritis
Describe the features of Epizootic catarrhal enteritis
- green slime diarrhea
- transmissible
- young ferrets as carriers
- diarrhea and anorexia
What is the cause of Epizootic catarrhal enteritis?
coronavirus
How is Epizootic catarrhal enteritis treated?
supportive care
Which disease shows “bird seed” tan diarrhea?
inflammatory bowel disease
- chronic malabsorption syndrome
What is being over-produced in hyperadrenalcorticism in ferrets?
sex steroids
- androgens, estrogens, and progesterones
What are the clinical signs of hyperadrenalcorticism in ferrets?
- hair loss
- pruritis
- swollen vulva
- prostatomegaly
- strong smell
- sexual behavior
How is hyperadrenalcorticism treated?
- Leuprolide monthly injections
- adrenalectomy
- usually both
What is a result from chronic estrogen production?
bone marrow suppression
What is Lupron, and what does it do?
- Leuprolide
- GnRH agonist
- stimulates LH/FSH
- negative feedback stops steroidogenesis
What is an insulinoma, and what is the primary effect?
- pancreatic beta cell carcinoma
- over-produces insulin resulting in hypoglycemia
What are the clinical signs of insulinoma in ferrets?
- episodic weakness
- coma and seizure
- drooling, inappetance
- difficult to arouse
- weak in rear end
How is an insulinoma diagnosed?
- fast blood glucose levels < 60
- surgical biopsy
- response to treatment
What is the treatment for insulinoma?
- prednisone (gluconeogenic)
- diazoxide (blocks insulin)
- low carb diet
- surgery: nodulectomy or partial pancreatectomy
What are the features of mast cell tumors in ferrets
- very common in skin only
- benign, do not metastasize
- can be itchy and bloody
- surgical removal
- good prognosis
What are the features of lymphosarcomas in ferrets?
- common
- multicentric
- lymphadenopathy
How is lymphosacroma treated?
- surgical debulking
- chemotherapy
- prednisone
Which cardiovascular disease is more common in ferrets?
dilated cardiomyopathy
