Ferrets Flashcards
Mustela nigripes is what kind of ferret?
Black footed ferret
What is the lifespan of a ferret?
7-8yrs
About how much does an adult ferret weigh?
Females 600-900gms
Males 800-1400gms
What is waardenburg syndrome?
Color linked congenital deafness seen in blaze and panda ferrets
When auscultation HR in a ferret.. where is it located?
Causally situated
The cranial mediastinum is an important area for tumors in ferrets.. what common tumor is found here?
Lymphoma
Normal heart rate and variations seen in ECG in ferrets?
Rate 180-230bpm
Tall R waves
Sinus arrhythmia are normal
Common cardiac condition of ferrets?
Dilated and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
T/f: A large spleen in a ferret indicates disease
False
Spleen is usually big in ferret
Can be benign extra-medullary hematopoiesis
What type of diet do you recommend for ferrets?
Strict carnivores
Protein (35-40%)
High fat (15-20%)
Low fiber
Natural (raw) diet
Commercial prep
Avoid grain-free formulations —-> lead to cystine stone formation
How should ferrets be housed?
Escape proof cage
Multilevels
Sleeping area
Litter box
Water bottle
How should ferrets be restrained?
Can scruff— induces yawn reflex
‘nutrical’ technique - distract them with treats
Ferretone -oil supplement
Chemical restraint - iso/sevoflurane
Injectable - torbugesic/midazolam/alfaxalone/dexdormtor
What are the benefits and disadvantages of dexdormitor in ferrets
Advantages — causes a short sedation in healthy ferret and can be reversed with atipamezole
Disadvantages — causes vasoconstriction.. not good for catheters or blood draws
What vaccinations are given to ferret
Distemper and rabies
T/F: you can use the canine distemper product in the ferret
False
Must use a product that is modified through chick embryo
Monovalent vaccines
What would you see if you give a ferret the canine distemper product instead of the ferret product?
Fatal
Skin disease on mouth and footpads
— pemphigus
What rabies vax is labeled for ferret?
Imrab — given yearly SQ
What are common vaccine reactions?
Anaphylaxis: GI and cardiovascular
**Pre med with diphenhydramine prior to vaccine (10-15mins)
How do you treat a vaccine rxn in ferret?
Dexamethasone SP, epinephrine, IV fluids
How much blood can you take from ferret?
10% of body weight (=10% of blood volume)
What venipuncture sites can you use in ferret?
Cephalic vein Lateral saphenous Crainial vena cava Jugular vein Tail vein
22g needle
TF: you should heparinzie your syringe prior to blood draw in ferret
True
What is normal ph of urine in ferret?
Low
5.5-6.5
How does a high grain diet affect urine ph/
Raises pH —> crystal formation (struvite)
Similar to cats
What are common causes of urinary tract obstructions in ferret?
Urolith/crystal
Prostatomegally
Adrenal dz
T/F: all prostatomegaly is caused by adrenal disease
True
How can you treat prostatomegaly in ferret?
Pass urinary catheter to unblock
Cysto may be needed to empty bladder
What features of the urethra do you need to be aware of so you can catheterize a ferret?
Small urethra with crooked os penis
Use 3.0 or 3.5 French / slippery sam cath
24g jelco catheter can help
You want to give IV fluids to a ferret.. what technique will you use?
Sedation required
Make a small nick in skin with 22g needle (thick skin) to feed 24g catheter through
Wrap well and monitor — chewing and tangle line
What can intraosseous catheters be used for?
Blood transfusions
Dextrose admin
Shock fluid
Bone marrow aspiration
What site can you have a IO catheter or aspiration bone marrow in ferret?
Head of femur
T/F: ferrets dont have blood groups
True
Multiple transfusions are ok!
How much blood can you transfuse into ferret?
Up to 10% of blood vol but 7-8% is safer
When is splenic aspiration indicated in ferret?
Irregular spleen on palpation
Abnormal ultrasound
Anemia of unknown cause
Lymphosarcoma
How must you give oral medications in ferret?
Cannot pill a ferret
Oral suspension — must be palatable
Analgesics that can be used in ferret?
Carprofen Meloxicam Buprenorphine Torbugesic Tramadol
** ferrets are very sensitive to sedative effects of parenteral opioids
Common GI disease of ferret?
Dental dz Foreign body ingestion Helicobacter gastroenteritis Inflammatory bowl dz Lymphosarcoma
T/F: hard kibble is good for ferrets and prevents dental disease by removing tartar
False
Hard kibble actually damages enamel and predisposes tartar
— > gingivitis and periodontal dz
_________ in ferrets leads to mouth pawing. Often causes ulcers and fistulas in oral cavity
Nausea
Etiologies of gastric ulcer in ferret?
Kidney dz - uremic gastritis (ibuprofen toxicity)
Foreign body
Toxin
Helicobacter mustelae
Most ferrets have helicobacter… what can cause them to develop ulcers associated with this bacteria?
Stress
Clinical signs of gastric ulcer in ferret?
Melena
Bruxism and ptyalism
Anorexia or inappetance
Vomiting uncommon
Chronic weight loss
How can you diagnose helicobacter gastritis?
Difficult to culture Gastric or duodenal mucosal biopsy Sliver stain (warthin-starry) PCR swab of mucosa Clinical signs
How do you treat helicobacter???
“Triple therapy”
Amoxicillin and metronidazole (flagyl)
Bismuth subsalicylate
Antacid (famotidine)
Sucralfate
Clarithromycin
Supportive care: fluids
In what age groups do we most commonly see foreign bodies?
Young <2 (often rubber)
Old >3 (trichobezoars)
Clinical signs of foreign body?
Anorexia and weight loss
Diarrhea; melena
Acutely weak
Not usually vomiting
How do you diagnose FB in ferret
Clinical signs
Abdominal palpation
Rads +/- contrast
Exploratory surgery
Treatment of FB in ferret
Supportive care
Medical - fluid,, lubricant, antibiotics
Surgery if needed
Prog is usually good
What is on your list of differentials in a ferret with diarrhea?
FB Dietary indiscretion Enteric coronavirus Inflammatory bowel dz Intestinal lymphoma Proliferative bowel disease GI parasites
What is the signalment and usual clinical seems with proliferative bowel dz?
Young <1yr
Diarrhea and anorexia
Rectal prolapse
Thickened bowel on palpation
What infectious agent has been associated with proliferative bowel disease?
Lawsonia intracellular is
Best therapy for proliferative bowel dz?
Chloramphenicol
You have a multiple ferret household..
The young ferrets seem to be fine, but the older ones have a green slimy diarrhea and are anorexic..
what is your dx and how will you treat?
Viral diarrhea “ epizootic catarrhal entertis” — coronavirus
Supportive care
Can result in a chronic malabsorption
Ferret comes into clinic with a “bird seed” tan diarrhea.. this is most consistent with what GI dz and how would you treat?
Inflammatory bowel dz
— chronic malabsorption syndrome
Immune-suppressive agents like pred or azathioprine
Two most common endorcine dz in ferret?
Hyperadrenocortisim
Insulinoma
T/F: most ferrets have adrenal disease
True
Can be uni or bilateral
Related to spay and neuter (pituitary-adrenal-gonad closely retailed)
Hyperadreanlcortisims in ferrrets is a ____________ producing tumor
Hormone
Eg progesterone, androgen, and estrogen
this is not cushings
Clinical signs associated with hyperadrenocortisim in ferret?
Hair loss Pruritus Swollen vulva (could also be a female in heat R/O intact females) Prostatomegaly Stronger smell Sexual behaviour
Hyperadreanocortisms in male ferrets causes what disease?
Prostatic dz - becomes cystic
Can also see urinary obstruction
Treatment of adrenal disease in ferreted
goal is to reduce sex hormones — leuprolide
Surgical adrenalectomy
Or Both
Recurrence is likely on other gland
The end stage of adrenal disease you get bone marrow suppression which manifests how in the integument?
Petechial hemorrhage
Why do most surgeons do a subtotal adrenalectomy on the right?
Attachment to vena cava
What is an insulinoma?
Tumor of B cells of pancreas
Overproduction of insulin causing hypoglycemia
Clinical signs of insulinoma?
Episodic weakness Drooling/inappetence Difficult to arouse Weak in rear end Coma and seizure
How can you diagnose insulinoma?
Fasting blood glucose < 60
Low insulin levels
Surgical biopsy
Response to treatment
** older ferret dz***
What medical therapy is there for treating insulinoma?
Maintaining blood glucose
** Pred— gluconeogenic effect (start low dose and increase as needed)
Diazoxide is insulin blocker
Dietary management - low carbs
Can do nodulectomy or partial pancreatectomy
Common tumor types in ferrets?
Adrenal
Insulinoma
Lymphosarcoma
mast cell tumor
T/F: mast cell tumors only occur in the skin, in ferrets
True
Can be itchy and bloody
Surgical removal PRN
T/F: lymphosarcoma is a neoplasic dz of both young and old ferrets
True
Usually muticentric lymphadenopathy
How is LSA diagnosed in ferret
Splenic aspiration or tissue biopsy
Bone marrow to stage
How do you treat LSA ?
Surgical debulk
Chemo : COP (cyclophosphamide, vincrine, pred)
Prednisone alone - palliative
Common cardiovascular diseases of ferrets?
DCM and HCM
Heartworm
