NTCA Medicine - Ferrets Flashcards
Describe ferrets generally
- Long thin obligate carnivores
- Variation in BW b/w seasons
Describe BW fluctuations?
○ Hob (male) and Jill (female) will lay down fat stores over
winter.
○ Jills may lose weight in Spring ○ Males may ‘bulk up’ → gain muscle, lose fat due to
testosterone increase in Spring.
Ferrets vertebral formula?
C7, T14-15, L5-7, S3
-4 Coccygeal
– varies, often>15
Normal TPR in Ferrets?
○ T =37.8-40°C
○ P = 200-250 beats per minute
○ R = 33-36 breaths per minute
What to check thoroughly in general PE?
DENTAL DX
What vaccines do ferrets get?
- Canine Distemper
- Rabies
Describe Canine Distemper?
- OFF label use
- Risk based analysis -> if outdoors, contat with other ferrets/dogs etc
- Booster vaccinations q1-3 years
- Annual boosters recomended but may not be necessary
- titre levels can be measures
Rabies?
for ferrets travelling outside of the UK -> licensed
Describe canine distemper?
- Transmitted by aerosol and direct contact with infected animals, body fluids /fomites
- Incubation 7-10d - catarrhal phase
- Initially anorexia, pyrexia, conjunctivits and serous nasal disC
other signs of canine distemper?
Erythematous and pruritic rash on the chin and spreads to inguinal area
● Melena
● Hyperkeratosis of the footpads can be seen occasionally
Neutropic phase fo distemper?
hyperexcitability, muscle tremors, hypersalivation, seizures and coma
Dx & Tx for canine distemper?
Diagnosis – clinical signs, severe leukopaenia, immunofluorescence testing of blood smears, buffy coat or conjunctival scrapings or PCR
No treatment
Ticks ?
■ Working ferrets & ferrets walked outside
■ Fipronil spray (off license)
■ Tick hooks
Fleas ?
■ Cat fleas found regularly – indoor ferrets should be included in the overall household flea control programme
■ Preventative → Advocate Spot -on solution for small cats and ferrets (moxidectin/imidacloprid) → licensed
Ear mites? (Otodectes cyanosis)
- Signs: mild to moderate pruritus, head shaking, hyperkeratosis of the pinnae, aural haematoma, erosions & crusting leading to otitis externa.
Chronic irritation, can lead to 2ary bact infection - Dx: microscopy of ear wax
- Selamectin 15-45mg/ferret as a single topical application
What endoparasites do ferrets get?
Nematodes & cestodes
Routine endoP control rarely indicated except?
travelling ferrets on the Pet Travel Scheme
Preventing Endoparasites?
→ Advocate Spot-on solution for small cats and ferrets (moxidectin/imidacloprid) → for heart worm prophylaxis where infection is endemic (not UK).
■ Praziquantel for cestodes to treat tapeworm and for Pet Travel Scheme
Assess pain?
○ Behavioural changes. ○ Increased depth and frequency of breaths. ○ Bruxism and/or hypersalivation ○ Change of gait ○ Arching of back ○ Vocalisation when touched
What. is the most Sensitive sign of pain?
Orbital tightening → high sensitivity,
specificity, and accuracy for detection of pain.
Ferret IV access?
cephalic/lateral saphenous vein -> apply topical local may make placement
IO-> proximal femur
Maintenance fluids?
60-100 ml/kg/day
Blood sampling sites?
cephalic, jugular, or lateral saphenous veins
What can we see on bloods if we use ISO?
decrease in the blood parameters → PCV,
Hb, WBC, plasma protein levels.
Respiratory dx of ferrets?
- Pneumonia common
- Viral
- Bacterial
What viral respiratory dx?
○ Canine distemper virus ○ Influenza virus → URT disease in ferrets, often transmitted from humans.
■ Nasal discharge, sneezing, epiphora, lethargy
■ Supportive care.
■ Antihistamines e.g. chlorpheniramine 1–2 mg/kg q8–12 hrs PO may help.
■ Meloxicam 0.2 mg/kg q24hrs can be given.
Bacterial resp dx?
○ Streptococcus zooepidemicus, S. pneumoniae, Streptococci groups C and G
○ Other bacteria → Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Main CV dx of ferrets?
- Valvular heart dx -> Mitral or aortic v
- Cardiomyopathy -> DCM mostly
- Heartworm -> Dirofilaria immitis
signs of CV dx?
→ inappetence, exercise intolerance,
coughing, HL weakness, lethargy, respiratory changes – dyspnoea, respiratory effort,
tachypnoea, ascites.
Diagnosis of CV dx?
■ Heart is situated more caudally than in other species.
■ Located at the 8th rib rather than medial to the elbow
with dogs or cats
-> VHS, Echo, ECG
Tx ?
- For CHF -> oxygen, diuretics, ACE,
potentially beta blockers,
HEARTWORM: advocate spot on
Urolithiasis ?
● Magnesium ammonium phosphate & struvite commonly
described.
● Cystine uroliths also reported.
● Diagnostics and treatment similar to that described in dogs and
surgery discussed in guinea pigs previously.
Urinary catheterisation ?
○ Remember – male has J-shaped penis and an os penis.
○ Os-penis
■ Palpated easily, caudal to preputial opening
■ Groove on the bone, supports urethra
Ferret GIT?
- Simple stomach, very short small and large intestine. No caecum
- Transit time 3-4 hours
- Can vomit -> should be starved but not as long as dogs/cats due to hypoG mayeb 4 hours
What is ferret GI susceptible to?
GI ulceration -> an lead to anorexia, D+, melena or fresh blood, V+
Most adult ferrets carry ….
Helicobacter -> often asymmtopatic & opportunistic
Describe effects of Helicobacter mustelae?
● May exacerbate ulceration of gastrointestinal tract
● May be implicated in gastric neoplasia, colitis and inflammatory bowel disease
● May see anorexia, dehydration, loss of condition, abdominal pain, emesis, tarry faeces
Bacterial causes of D+?
Lawsonia Intracellularis
Campylobacter jejuni
Salmonella - zoonotic, mycoB infections
Viral causes od D+
- Canine distemper virus
- Rotavirus
- Ferret enteric coronavirus /systemic coronaV
- Parasitic -> coccidiosis, crypto, giardia
Other causes of GI signs?
- GI FB (ear plugs!)
CLS: vomiting if gastric outflow obstructed,
chronic WL, anorexia & intermittent D+ - Trichobezoar -> fluid therapy, surgery, preventative care -> grooming, Katalax
- Gi neoplasia
WHat analgesia can we give?
NOT PARACETAMOL
Nutritional support for GI conditions
- Palatable liquid feed
- For chronic D+ -> B12 supplementation
- Probiotic paste
Splenomegaly?
- easily palpated in ferret -> normal spleen
- common finding in aged ferret -> often an incidental finding it smooth -> extra-medullary haemopoiesis
- If spleen nodular & enlarged, consider lymphoma, mycobact infection,
Surgery indicated if neoplastic or the size is causing discomfort and cannot be resolved
medically.
Describe dermatophytosis ?
○ Trichophyton mentagrophytes ○ Microsporum canis ○ Often in immunosuppressed, geriatric or
very young animals
○ ZOONOTIC ○ Non-pruritic annular lesions of alopecia,
scale and broken hair.
Reasons for skin surgery
○ Lump removal → Neoplasia/cystic
○ Abscess
○ Wound management
what common lumps?
MCTs - benign in ferrets
○ Lump removal → surgical approach similar to lump removal for dog and cat. Excision is curative.
○ Administer famotidine 2.5 mg/ferret q24hrs PO and an antihistamine pre-operatively.
○ Antihistamine (piriton - chlorpheniramine 1–2 mg/kg q8–12hrs PO).
reproductive management ferrets?
- Unique → females must be
taken out of season - If surgically neutered → may
predispose to adrenal
disease
appearane of female genitals?
What approach preferred for pregnancy prevention?
Medical approach preferred
female reproductive management?
- Jills reach sexual maturity in the first spring after birth at 8-12 months
- Occasionally see signs of oestrus in the first AUTUMN if females were born early in the season, weather conditions are suitable and photoperiod is suitable.
- Seasonal breeders – March until September
When do hobs reach puberty?
Hobs usually reach puberty at approximately 9 months
QoL & repro management?
Reduction of smell in neutered ferrets is preferable for some owners (but may increase the risk of adrenal disease if surgically neutered). Increased testosterone results in increased activity of sebaceous glands
Ovulators?
Induced ovulators - will remain in oestrus intil they are mated, are chemically brought out of oestrus or the day length
What does prolonged oestrus cause?
s = increases risk of persistent hyperoestrogenism → aplastic anaemia → risk high if jill been
in season for 4 weeks or longer
C/S of prolonged oestrus?
Subcutaneous and mucosal petechia, ecchymoses, swollen vulva, pale mucous membranes, abdominal
distension, alopecia.
Where should you blood sample in this case?
Sample from peripheral veins only due to thrombocytopaenia (cephalic/saphenous).
Dx & Tx in anaemic jills ?
Diagnosis → signalment & haematology (non-regenerative anaemia, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia).
Treatment → supportive care, stimulate ovulation: 100IU hCG IM, should bring out of season within 7 days.
Blood transfusion if PCV <15-20%
Prognosis ?
Prognosis → poor to guarded → haematocrit can be used as a prognostic indicator (PCV >25% = good, 15%
guarded, <10% grave → remember normal = 46% to 61%.
Options for repro management?
- Natural mating (vasectomised male)
- Delvosteron injection (jill jab) - NOW NOT AVAILABLE
- HCG injection
Hormonal implant (Deslorelin) - Surgical neutering (not ideal)
Natural mating option?
- Vasectomised ferrets will retain their musky odour &
hormonal behaviour, as this is dependent on testosterone
levels. - Mating appears violent → biting and dragging the jill by neck
→ NORMAL BEHAVIOUR - Pseudopregnancy lasts approximately 42 days
- Increased aggression towards owners and cage mates
- Abdominal enlargement
- Mammary gland development
- Risk of disease transmission if vasectomised hobs shared
HCG option?
IM injection induces ovulation 35h later, occacionally needs repeat 7d later
Not licensed
Deslorelin?
GnRH agonist -> bloks natural pulsatile release fo hormones
Licensed in males, off license in females
Reversible
Ovarian suppression 18-24 months
What to do after putting in a Deslorelin implant?
- After implanting keep males
and females separate for
initial few weeks
AEs of Deslorelin?
- Transient moderate
swelling at insertion site - Erythema at insertion site * Pruritis * Pyometra
medical management males?
- In response to testosterone, ferrets
produce sebaceous secretions and a
musky odour - Can place deslorelin implant, SC between
scapulae every 18-24 months - GnRH implant→ Plasma FSH and
testosterone concentrations, testis size
and spermatogenesis were all
suppressed after Deslorelin implant - Owners to monitor → once testes
increase in size again → time to place
another implant
Pineal gland ?
○ A small conical endocrine gland
○ Attached by stalk to the dorsal wall of the third ventricle of the
cerebrum
○ Major source of melatonin biosynthesis
melaonin?
○ Hormone synthesised and released during hours of darkness
○ Responsible for function of body related to photoperiod
Normal situation with pineal gland?
Normal situation → Melatonin produced during dark phase of the day
→ as longer days this suppression is lost→ get pulsatile release of
GnRH→ Stimulates production of LH and FSH→ Stimulates the gonads
to produce either oestradiol or testosterone.
How does Hyperadrenocorticism today?
○ Loss of negative feedback→ Increase in the release of LH and
FSH→ Persistently stimulate respective receptors in the adrenal
cortex
○ Eventually will result in adrenocortical hyperplasia and possibility of
tumour formation (Schoemaker, 2009).
CLs of hyperadrenocorticism ?
symmetrical alopecia, rat-tail appearance, swollen vulva
in neutered jills (sprites), recurrence of sexual behaviour in castrated
males (hobbles), pruritic, urinary obstruction in males due to peri-prostatic
cysts, prostate enlargement &/or peri-urethral cysts.
dx of hyperadrenocorticism?
Clinical signs & history, serum adrenal panel with caution in interpretation
(androstenedione, oestradiol, 17α
-hydroxyprogesterone), ultrasonography.
DDX for hyperadrenoC?
ovarian remnant syndrome
Tx for hyperadrneoC?
→ Tend to favour deslorelin implant over surgery → with the exception in hobbles with
urinary obstruction. Implant may not prevent growth of tumour but improves QOL. Hobbles →
adrenalectomy/debulk or medical treatment with osaterone acetate (Ypozane, Virbac) may be
given to shrink the prostate (off license)
Pancreatic insulinoma ?
accounts for 25% of all neoplasms
● Small tumours of the pancreatic beta cells ○ Microadenomas → excess of insulin
→HYPOGLYCAEMIA
CLS pancreatic insulinoma?
→ varies from slight incoordination, weakness in hind
limbs to complete collapse & seizures. Nausea, pawing at mouth,
salivation, glazed look in eyes. Signs may resolve spontaneously after
eating.
Dx of pancreatic insulinoma?
Blood Glucose
<3.4mmol/l after withholding food for 4
hours ○ If BG 3.4
-4.2mmol/l prolong fast for 2 more hours & retest.
○ Be aware of limitations of point of care glucometers
– however,
they can be useful. Gold standard testing: venous plasma
glucose tested by lab analyser.
○ Ultrasonography challenging
→ usually very small!
○ Ex
-lap
Emergency tx ?
→ oral administration of a dextrose gel, followed by EmerAid carnivore or normal ferret
food. If unconscious, slow IV bolus of injectable 50% glucose diluted 1:1 with saline to effect.
○ Some ferrets may require continued IV fluids spiked with glucose.
Medical options?
○ Diazoxide – inhibits insulin release
○ Prednisolone – important action is gluconeogenesis.
■ Added to diazoxide protocol if necessary as disease progresses
Surgical pancreatectomy?
YES possible
Lymphoma?
● Commonly seen in both adults and juveniles.
● Clinical signs → non-specific, reduced appetite, weight
loss, peripheral lymphadenopathy, dyspnoea,
coughing/gagging.
Dx ?
○ Radiography → pleural effusion, mediastinal mass
○ Ultrasonography +/- FNA for cytology
○ Surgical biopsies/peripheral lymph node excision
for histopathology
Lymphoma stages?
○ Stage 1: single site → consider surgery
○ Stage 2: Two or more non-contiguous sites on the same
side of the diaphragm → consider surgery and chemo
○ Stage 3: multiple lymphatic sites on both sides of the
diaphragm → consider chemo +/- surgery
○ Stage 4: multiple lymphatic sites on both sides of the
diaphragm plus non-lymphatic tissue/bone marrow →
poor response to chemotherapy
Tx for lymphoma?
Chemo or glucoCs
