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