Ferrets and Ferret Diseases Flashcards
1
Q
What are the current uses of Ferrets
A
- Laying and testing cables
- Ferret-legging for entertainment
- Fur production - fitch ferrets
- laboratory animals
- Pets
2
Q
What animal and human diseases have been tested using ferret models
A
- Canine distemper virus
- Human Influenza virus
- Reye’s syndrome
- Cardiovascular disease
- Helicobacter-associated gastritis and ulceration
- Lawsonia/Campylobacter enteritis
3
Q
How do Ferrets reproduce? litter size? etc
A
- Seasonally polyestrus
- Breeding season: March to August
- Induced ovulators
- stay in estrus until ovulation
- Sexually mature 8-12mo
- Gestation: 41-42 days
- Litter size: 6-10
- Weaning: 6-8 weeks
4
Q
Why do Ferrets smell? (Body odor)
A
- Source:
- anal gland secretions (minimal contribution)
- sebaceous gland secretions (major)
- Strongest: intact males
- removal of anal glands + castration = reduced smell, but sebaceous glands impart majority
- Do NOT bathe to reduce smell
- harmful to fur coat and skin
5
Q
What should the diet of Ferrets consist of?
A
- Obligate Carnivores
- Crude Protein: 30-35%
- Fat content: 15-20%
- No kitten food - too high in fat
- High quality ferret food w/ animal-based dietary protein
6
Q
How should Ferrets be handled/restrained
A
- Ideal:
- place one hand under or around the chest
- lift and support hind limbs w/ other hand
- Hold ferret close to body for security and stability
- Scruffing should only be done when absolution necessary
- ~50% of ferrets will yawn when scruffed
7
Q
What are the basic physiological parameters of Ferrets?
A
- Temp: 100-103
- HR: 180-320 bpm
- RR: 20-60 brpm
- BW: 600-2000g
- males larger
8
Q
What is the normal posture of a ferret?
A
- Walk with a normal hump in back
- Weak or ill ferret will lose normal hump in back, rear limb weakness and ataxia
9
Q
What are the unique things about the Cardiovascular system in Ferrets?
A
- Heart more caudal 6-8th ribs
- Dramatic respiratory sinus arrhythmia is normal
10
Q
What are some unique PE findings for ferrets
A
- Middle-aged to older usually have a dramatically enlarged spleen
- usually benign (extramedullary hematopoiesis)
- Lymph nodes surrounded by fat
- do not mistake for enlargement
- firmness or asymmetry ⇢ lymphadenopathy
- Adrenocortical disease common
- look for alopecia (especially flanks, shoulders, tail base)
- look for vulvar swelling or reddening of the prepuce
11
Q
What vaccines should ferrets receive
A
- Rabies
- Imrab licensed for ferrets
- killed vaccine
- Canine Distemper virus
- canarypox-vectored recombinant
- only CDV licensed for ferrets
- Consider antihistamine as premedication for vaccine reaction
12
Q
What is the shock organ of ferrets?
A
- GI tract
- Vaccine reaction may present as severe diarrhea or vomiting
13
Q
What is the vaccination schedule for ferrets
A
- Young ferrets (<14 wks of age)
- serial distemper vaccines every 4 wks until 14wks of age
- 6, 10 14 or 8, 12, 16
- Rabies at 3 months
- serial distemper vaccines every 4 wks until 14wks of age
- Adults:
- Yearly distemper
- initial series 2 vaccines 3 wks apart
- Yearly rabies vaccine
- Yearly distemper
14
Q
What is Ferret insulinoma?
A
- Pancreatic beta cell tumor
- Affects middle-aged to older pet ferrets
- Results: low blood glucose levels in the face of high insulin levels
- Common clinical signs:
- depression
- star-gazing
- posterior paresis/ataxia
- nausea (hypersalivation, pawing at mouth)
- seizure
15
Q
What is Ferret Adrenal Gland Disease?
A
- Very common - no true cure
- Early spay/neuter practice may play role
- Diet
- UVB exposure
- Common Clinical Signs:
- Alopecia
- vulvar enlargement
- prostatic inflammation
- pruritus
- aggression
- Pathology: Hyperplasia ⇢ adenoma ⇢ carcinoma
16
Q
What is Ferret lymphoma
A
- Various forms seen depending on age
- Juvenile form - respiratory distress secondary to thymic enlargement (<3 years of age)
- Adult onset - peripheral lymphadenopathy
- No conclusive evidence on treatment or long term prognosis
17
Q
What is Ferret Helicobacter Gastritis?
A
- Helicobacter mustelae
- Colonizes GIT in nearly 100% of ferrets shortly after weaning
- Reported in any age - infection increases in severity as ferret ages
- Often asymptomatic, but can overgrow w/ stress or concurrent disease ⇢ gastritis, gastroduodenal ulcers
- Clinical signs: most subclinical
- Vomiting
- nausea
- abdominal pain
- ptyalism
- pawing at mouth
- bruxism
- diarrhea progressing to melena
- acute and chronic onset reported
18
Q
How is Ferret Helicobacter Gastritis Diagnosed/Treated
A
- Diagnosis: often presumptive
- definitive - gastroscopy w/ biopsy
- Warthin-Starry silver stain
- Hard to culture
- PCR
- definitive - gastroscopy w/ biopsy
- Treatment: combo therapy more effective
- Metronidazole + bismuth + amoxicillin
19
Q
What human disease can affect ferrets?
A
- Human influenza virus
- Transmission:
- ferret to ferret
- ferret to human
- human to ferret
- Transmission:
- COVID
20
Q
How does Human Influenza virus affect Ferrets?
A
- Clinical signs:
- Fever
- Upper respiratory tract illness
- coughing, sneezing, thick nasal discharge, water eye)
- Lethargy
- Anorexia
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Most adults recover w/in 7-14 days w/ supportive care
- Worse in very old and very young ferrets
21
Q
How does COVID affect Ferrets?
A
- Reported clinical signs:
- Gastroenteritis
- severe lethargy
- dehydration
- respirator signs
- coughing, sneezing
22
Q
Where can blood samples be taken from ferrets?
A
- Cranial Vena Cava - best
- just lateral of the manubrium ad cranial to the first rib
- Jugular vein
- Cephalic vein - small volumes only
- Lateral saphenous vein
- small volmes only
23
Q
What is unique about the clinical pathology of Ferrets?
A
- Normal Hematocrit relatively high (46-61%)
- dramatically decreased with the use of isoflurane or sevoflurane
- max effect 15 minutes; duration 45 minutes)
- dramatically decreased with the use of isoflurane or sevoflurane
- Normal Creatinine levels relatively low
- 0.1-0.3 mg/dL almost always <0.5mg/dL
