Ferrets Flashcards
What type of breeders are ferrets?
Seasonal (long day) breeders
What are working ferrets used for?
Rabbit hunting
What type of diet do ferrets have e.g. omnivore, herbivore, carnivore?
Obligate carnivore
Do ferrets prefer to be kept in groups or solitary?
Very sociable
Pairs or groups of any sex (depends on personality)
Sleep together in piles
Why is GI disease very common in ferrets?
Very curious - will attempt to eat almost anything
What conditions may cause a ferret to ingest a foreign body (pica)?
Hepatopathy
Inflammatory bowel disease
Why does foreign body ingestion in ferrets show rapid clinical signs?
Ferrets have a short GI transit time
What is a trichobezoar?
Ingested mass of hair
Are trichobezoars normal or pathological in ferrets?
Can be either
Due to self grooming or pruritic skin disease
What bacteria causes GI infections (and anaemia) in < 2 yrs or stress/sick ferrets? (or a recent diet change)
Helicobacter mustelae
Chronic Helicobacter infection in ferrets can use to development of what tumours?
Gastric adenocarcarcinoma
Gastric mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma
How is Helicobacter mustelae in ferrets diagnosed?
Silver staining to visualise organism
Serological assay
PCR on gastric swabs PLUS gastric biopsise
How is Helicobacter mustelae treated in ferrets?
Ranitidine/omeprazole
Antibiotics - metronidazole, amoxicillin
What type of pathogen causes Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis (green slime disease) in ferrets?
Coronavirus
What are the symptoms of epizootic catarrhal enteritis in ferrets?
Green, mucoid D+
V+
Weight loss
Is Epizootic catarrhal enteritis more severe in younger or older ferrets?
Older ferrets
How is epizootic catarrhal enteritis treated in ferrets?
Supportive care
Broad spectrum antibiotics
GI protectants
Quarantine
Ferret systemic coronavirus resembles what virus in cats?
FIP
Dry form
How is ferret systemic coronavirus diagnosed?
Bloods - hypergammaglobuniaemia
Does ferret systemic coronavirus tend to affect older or younger ferrets?
Young ferrets
Survival for 2 months
What bacteria causes proliferative colitis in ferrets?
Lawsonia intracellularis
What is salivary mucocele?
Abnormal collection of saliva leaked from damaged salivary glands/ducts
Which glands in ferrets produce their typical ‘musky’ smell? Do males or females have a stronger smell?
Sebaceous glands
Males
When do ferrets usually moult?
Spring/Summer