Ferrets - Small Furries 2 Flashcards
1
Q
What is the ferret a domesticated form of?
A
European Polecat
2
Q
What is the latin name for ferrets?
A
Mustela putorius furo
3
Q
Are ferrets more closely related to cats or dogs?
A
Dogs however they share some features with both
4
Q
Why do people have ferrets?
A
Pets
Pest control/sport
Racing
Laboratory use
5
Q
What is a female ferret called?
A
Jill
6
Q
What is a neutered female ferret called?
A
Sprite
7
Q
What is a male ferret called?
A
Hob
8
Q
What is a neutered male ferret called?
A
Gib
9
Q
What is a vasectomised male ferret called?
A
Hoblet
10
Q
What is a baby ferret called?
A
Kitten or pup
11
Q
What is the lifespan of a ferret?
A
6-9 years
12
Q
What is the weight of a ferret?
A
0.6 - 2kg (females very small compared to males)
13
Q
What is the length of a ferret?
A
30 - 60 cms
14
Q
Describe ferret fur.
A
Fine dense undercoat with second layer of course guard hairs
15
Q
What prevents vets being able to inject ferrets in their scruff?
A
Thick skin and hair over back of neck
16
Q
Why is there thick skin over the back of ferrets necks?
A
Prevents against injury during fighting and mating
17
Q
Do ferrets have sweat glands? If so, where?
A
They do not have sweat glands
18
Q
Why is heat stroke common in ferrets?
A
They don’t have sweat glands
19
Q
What gives ferrets their distinct odour?
A
Sebaceous glands are found all over the body
20
Q
Where are sebaceous glands found at a higher density in ferrets?
A
Around the mouth and anus
21
Q
When are sebaceous gland secretions increased in ferrets?
A
During breeding season, the coat becomes oily and yellow
22
Q
Describe the anal glands of ferrets.
A
Well developed
Found just inside the anus
23
Q
What do anal glands of ferrets produce?
A
Serous yellow liquid with powerful odour
24
Q
What is an anal sacculectomy?
A
Removal of anal glands
(considered a mutilation in UK)
25
What stance do ferrets take?
Plantar stance
26
What property of the skeletal system makes ferrets efficient hunters and allows them to escape easily?
A long and flexible spine
27
What is the vertebral formula of the ferret?
C7 T15 L5 S3 Cd18
28
How many toes are found on each foot of a ferret?
5 toes
29
Describe the claws of ferrets.
Non retractable claws
Need to clip claws of house pets
30
What is shape of a ferret skull?
Typical carnivore skull shape
Zygomatic bones unclosed ('open' orbit)
31
How does a ferrets jaw structure allow for just slicing and shearing?
Little to no lateral movement
No chewing
32
What kind of vision do ferrets have?
Binocular vision
Eyes are placed laterally giving good peripheral vision
33
How are ferrets eyes adapted for nocturnal behaviour?
Large domed cornea, spherical lens & tapetum lucidum
Sees well in dim light and sees movement rather than pictures
34
Describe the pupils of ferrets.
Pupil slit is horizontal rather than vertical like seen in a cat
35
Is the nictitating membrane developed?
Yes, it is well developed
36
What happens if ferrets are not exposed to daylight?
It affects hormone production
Photoperiod is very important
37
What affects the seasonal reproductive cycle of ferrets?
Pineal gland and melatonin
38
What is the dental formula of an adult ferret?
I 3/3 , C 1/1 , P 3/3 , M 1/2
Total = 34
39
Describe the teeth of ferrets.
All rooted (upper 3rd premolar has three roots)
Long curved canines
40
At what age do permanent teeth erupt?
50-74 days
41
At what age do kittens' teeth erupt?
3-4 weeks of age
42
What is saliva used for in ferrets?
Lubrication
Not digestion as there is no amylase activity in parotid or submandibular saliva
43
Name the 5 paired glands found in ferrets.
Submandibular
Parotid
Sublingual
Molar
Zygomatic
44
What can cause damage to the salivary glands in ferrets?
Fighting
Trauma to ducts
Dental disease
45
What is a sialocele?
A subcutaneous cavity containing saliva (usually post-trauma or infection)
46
What is the capacity of the stomach of a ferret?
The stomach is capable of enormous distension and allows gorging
Can hold 50ml/kg or more
47
Ferrets have no true gastro-oesophageal sphincter. What does this allow them to do that rodents cannot?
Vomit
48
What property of ferrets' gastrointestinal system has an affect on pre-op preparation and what is the affect?
Rapid intestinal transit time (3-4 hours)
Don't need to starve pre-op for longer than a few hours
If starved too long hypoglycaemia can occur
49
Describe the diet of ferrets.
Obligate carnivores
35-40% protein
20% fat
< 25% carbohydrate
Ca:Phos 1:1
50
Is the ferret oesophagus more like the dog or cat oesophagus and why?
Dog
Striated muscle is found throughout the length
51
What is another reason why you shouldn't starve ferrets for too long relating to the gastrointestinal tract?
There is a spontaneous secretion of hydrochloric acid even when not fed
52
Describe the intestines of ferrets.
Small intestine is short
Duodenum, jejunoileum
Ends at ascending colon (no caecum, no distinct junction)
Large intestine is approx 10cm long
Ascending, transverse, descending colon
53
What features of the GI tract are missing in ferrets?
Caecum
Appendix
Ileocolic junction
54
Why is it difficult to tube feed a ferret through a nasogastric tube?
They have very small nostrils
Oesophagostomy tube better
55
Do ferrets breathe through their nasal or oral cavity?
They are not obligate nasal breathers, but do prefer this route
56
What is the respiratory rate of a ferret?
30-40 bpm
57
How many lobes in each lung of a ferret and what are they called?
Left lung = cranial, caudal
Right lung = cranial, middle, accessory, caudal
58
Why can an abnormality in the thoracic cavity cause severe respiratory compromise?
They have a long a narrow thoracic inlet which has multiple structures passing through it - the oesophagus, trachea and blood vessels (including subclavian).
59
What is the resting heart rate of ferrets?
180-250 bpm
60
Where can the heart be found in ferrets?
More caudally than in a dog or cat
6th - 8th rib
61
How do you assess cardiovascular performance in ferrets?
Check pulse pressure - not reliably palpable
Urine output - used as indirect measurement of cardiac output
62
If a ferret's urine output drops below 1ml/kg/hr with no previous diagnosis of renal disease, what does this indicate?
Low cardiac output
63
What percentage of body weight is ferrets' blood volume?
5-7%
64
Why do you need to be aware of how much blood you take when blood sampling a ferret?
They are often anaemic
If serial blood samples being done ensure no more than 15% of total blood volume is extracted over 28 days.
65
Can you give ferrets blood transfusions?
Yes - no cross matching required
66
Where do you take blood samples from in ferrets?
Cephalic and jugular
Tail artery may be used in lab animals (harder)
67
What are the similarities and differences between the urinary system of ferrets and cats/dogs?
Similar anatomy
Different serum chemistry
68
Describe creatinine and urea levels in a ferret with kidney disease and how this is different to cats/dogs?
Ferrets - as urea rises, creatinine often excreted through other routes so doesn't end up in the blood (looks normal)
Cats/dogs - creatinine and urea rise in parallel
69
Why can catheterisation be difficult in male ferrets?
They have a j shaped os penis
70
What issues occur in ferrets' urinary system?
Urethral blockage
Due to prostate enlargement associated with adrenal diagnosis
Urolithiasis (stones in urinary tract) (less common)
71
At what age do ferrets reach puberty?
6-9 months
72
Describe the female oestrus cycle of ferrets.
Seasonal breeders - monoestrus
Reflex ovulators
73
What is the gestation period of ferrets?
42 days
74
Are ferret young born altricial or precocial?
Altricial - need extra parental care
75
How do you sex a ferret?
A male is much larger than a female
The testes and penis are obvious (preputial opening is more cranial than expected)
The vulva is under the tail cranial to the anus
76
Describe the female ferret reproductive anatomy.
Bicornuate Y-shaped uterus
Similar to the bitch
77
Describe the male ferret reproductive anatomy.
J shaped os-penis
Testes small relative to body size
Similar to the dog
78
What does the failure of a jill to mate result in?
Prolonged production/secretion of oestrogen
Bone marrow suppression and subsequent anaemia
Death
79
Why don't all female ferrets get spayed?
Decreases negative feedback, increases GnRH, overstimulated, adrenal disease
80
How can female ferrets be kept if they are not mated?
They can be sham mated by a vasectomised hob, or given chemical oestrus suppression drugs
81
Why is it difficult to perform surgery on the adrenal glands of ferrets?
They lie near each kidney embedded in fat & covers by peritoneum
Both lie ventral to ipsilateral adrenolumbar artery
82
What blood vessel supplies the adrenal glands?
Ipsilateral renal artery
83
What is the difference between adrenal disease in ferrets and dogs?
Ferrets - not associated with the pituitary gland
Dogs - is associated with the pituitary gland
84
What is the most common presenting clinical sign of adrenal disease in ferrets?
Alopecia
85
What other clinical signs may you see in ferrets with adrenal disease?
Behavioural changes - aggression
Swollen vulva
Difficulty urinating (males)
Muscle loss
86
What are the main risk factors associated with adrenal disease in ferrets?
Neutering in both males and females (especially early neutering)
Abnormal photoperiod (animals housed indoors subject to abnormally long periods of daylight)
87
What does adrenal disease occur as a result of?
Over-production of sex hormones by the adrenal glands (from zone reticularis)
Estradiol
Androsterone and testosterone
17-alpha hydroxyprogesterone
88
What hormone is not overproduced in ferrets with adrenal disease but is in dogs?
Corticosteroids
