• Introduction
• Vaccination protocol
• Zoonotic potential
• COMMON DISEASES AND HEALTH PROBLEMS OF FERRETS
• Infectious Disease of the Ferret Viral disease
• Rule out chart for ferrets based on clinical signs

FERRETS ( Mustela putorius furo )
Order Carnivora
Family Mustelidae
Male = hob
Female = jill
 
            Behavior
            Most pet ferrets are gentle and tractable.
            Ferrets are good-natured , playful , non aggressive , non-territorial and require a fair amount of attention.
            They are very active and curious animals that enjoy the company of humans and other animals.
            Ferrets are not exclusively diurnal or nocturnal:they are usually most active in the early morning and evening but their natural schdule can be changed to concide with their owners.
            Ferrets are quiet. The only vocalizations they make are chuckles and giggles during play. Occasionally ferrets will whine or cry when they want something or if they are in pain or ill.
• Average life span                                     = 5 - 9 years
• Type of estrous cycle                              = polyestrous
• Duration of estrous                                  = prolong
• Mechanism of ovulation                         = induced
• Breeding season                                         = all year
• Gestation period                                         = 39 - 46 days
• Average litter size                                       = 8
• Ears and eyes open at                                 = 21 - 37 days
• Weaning at                                                     = 5 - 6 weeks
• Rebreeding                                                     = immediately
• HR                                                                    = 220 - 250
• RR                                                                     = 32 - 36
• Temperature                                                     = 100.8 - 104 F

• ---


            Body Odor
            Three sources contribute to this odor :
1. 1. The paired anal sacs adjacent to the anus.
2. 2. The gonads (via hormonally sensitive sebaceous glands in the skin)
3. 3. Sebaceous and apocrine glands in the perianal skin.
            Ordor from the first two sources is eliminated surgically. Bathing helps to reduce odor emanating from the skin. Ferrets are bathed easily and as needed (up to one to two times per week)
            All mustelids and most carnivores have paired anal sacs.

            Diet
            Ferrets are true carnivores , they cannot handle fiber > 4%
            Ferrets enjoy sweets , dairy product , raisins , fruits , and vegetables : ingestion should be limited. Many will produce diarrhea and ferret cannot digest the fiber in many fruits and vegetables.
            Bread and milk is often given and is eaten regularly. However , it tend to produce loose faeces and may predispose to paradontal disease;it is best reserved as a warm meal on cold evenings or when the ferret is sick.

            Housing
            Metal or wire cages are preferable unless the ferret is housed outside. Good ventilation is important.

 Vaccination protocol
            Canine distemper 1 ml
            The vaccine should be derived from non-canine cell lines. Otherwise there exists the possibility that the ferret will contract canine distemper from a canine cell line vaccine. ( Modified live chick embryo tissue culture origin )
            It is not recommended to use canine vaccines that contain parvovirus , adenovirus , or other viruses , because the ferret is not susceptible to these disease.
 6 weeks of age SC
10 weeks of age SC
14 weeks of age SC
Annual booster or If the dam is vaccinated , vaccinate the kit initially at 8 weeks of ages and repeat vaccination every 2 - 3 weeks until the kit is 14 weeks of ages.
            If the dam is unvaccinated , vaccinate the kit initially at 6 weeks of ages and repeat as above.
            Rabies first 3 month SC Annual booster
            Heartworm preventive 0.05 - 0.1 mg/kg monthly 68 mcg tablet 0.06 mg/kg

 Zoonotic potential
• Giardia
• Listeria
• Microsporum canis
• Salmonella
• Campylobacter
• Tuberculosis
• Influenza virus A
• Fleas
• Sarcoptes mites : Sarcoptes scabei
• Ear mites : Otodectes
• Rabies
• Dirofilaria immitis ( heartworm )
• Cryptosporidia

            Geriatic Examination
             Annual(and preanesthetic)physical examination: heart and lung sound , temperature , weight and general condition. 
General blood panel
Deep abdominal palpation for lumps , enlarged organ
Ultrasonography if abnormalities found.
Deep ear examination and cleaning if necessary.
Dental examination - scale tartar from teeth if need.
Radiographs
Cardiography

            ANESTHESIA
            Isoflurane is safely administered
OR 0.1 - 0.25 mg/kg Acepromazine SC OR IM
        5 - 30 minutes later , 20 - 35 mg/kg Ketamine IM
            Maintain on Halothane or isoflurane on low concentration. Acepromazine is useful for sedation. A combination of ketamine and acepromazine is effective and safe for minor surgery. Ketamine used alone does not produce effective muscle relaxation.

 COMMON DISEASES AND HEALTH PROBLEMS OF FERRETS
            1. Gastrointestinal foreign bodies are common
            2. Botulism
            Ferrets are highly susceptible to botulism
            Within 12 - 96 hr. of eating contaminated food ,they will exhibit dysphagia , ataxia and paresis
            3. Staphyllococcus , Streptococcus and Corynebacterium abscess and localized infection are common bacteria from the environment can be introduced through penetrating wound , punctures , abrasions , and contact with mucous membrane by inhalation or ingestion.
            4 . Canine distemper
            5. Human influenza virus
            Initial signs are similar to distemper
            Listless , febrile , anorectic , sneezing , purulent nasal discharge
            Recovery usually occurs in 5 - 7 days
            6. Urolithiasis and lower urinary tract infections
            7. Splenomegaly
            Splenomegaly can be an incidental finding in an otherwise healthy animal or it may occur in association with a wide variety of disease conditions.
            Splenomegaly is common in ferrets;hypersplenism is rare.
Severe anemia
Splenic lymphosarcoma
Proliferative colitis
Aleutian disease
            In ferrets that do not have lymphoma , splenomegaly can occur in conjunction with infectious , endrocrine , and systemic conditions including (but not restricted to) influenza , enteritis , GI obstruction , cardiommyopathy , insulinoma , and adrenal tumors.
            8. Prolong estrus
            Anemia in an intact female ferret with a swollen vulva for more than 4 weeks most likely is due to estrogen toxicity.
            Bone marrow depression produces pancytopenia
            Pale mucous membrane , bilaterally symmetrical alopecia , melena , anorexia , petechial haemorrhage and depression.
            9. Ear mites
            Ferrets normally have a large volume of dark reddish brown ear wax , mimicking the character of wax present with Otodectes cyanotis infestation in cats.
            With chronic ear mite infestation , a bluish pigment may appear on the inner surface of the pinnae. There may be thickening of the tissue in the areas of pigmentation. This pigmentation is not harmful , is a response to chronic irritation and usually fades with treatment of the mites.
            Treatment , divide 1 mg/kg of ivermectin into two doses and instill into each ear. Repeat in 2 weeks.
            10. Disease of the adrenal gland
            In the ferret , disease of the adrenal gland is not related to the pituitaly as in other species. It is usually a disease of ferrets three years of age and older.Ferreted affected with adrenal disease may be either intact or neutered. The alopecia in adrenocortical disease in the ferret is caused by an increased production of androgens rather than an increase in corticosteroids as in other animals.

 Infectious Disease of the Ferret
            Viral disease
            Canine distemper and influenza are the two most common viral disease in the ferret.
            Canine Distemper
            CDV can be transmitted to ferrets directly from affected animals of any species and through contact with fomites such as shoes or clothing.
            Incubation period 7 - 10 days
            Ferrets develop a distinct pattern of thickening and crusting of the integument of the chin and lips and a pronounced hyperkeratosis of the footpads. Crusting may also include the rectal and inguinal area.
            Dermatologic lesions are quite prominent with CDV infection in ferrets.
• -Rash on the skin around the lips , chin , eyes , and sometimes the inguinal area
• -With time crusts and skin thickening may appear
• -Hyperkeratosis of the foot pads occurs as the disease progresses.
            Influenza
            The domestic ferret is susceptible to the same influenza viral strains that affect humans. Influenza virus from affected humans and other ferrets can infect ferrets by contact with naso-ocular discharges and inhalation of aerosolized droplets. Ferrets can transmit influenza to humans.
            Aleutian disease (ADV)
            Trannsmission is by direct contact or through fomites contaminated with any infected body fluid including blood.
            ADV produces a progressive immune complex mediated disease with antigen antibody complex deposition in various organs of the body.
            Clinical signs
            The clinical signs of ADV are extremely variable and the incubation period can be as long as 200 days. Some ferrets become asymptomatic carriers.
            Posterior paresis may be the initial presenting sign. Initially the ferret appears bright and alert. As the disease progresses , the paresis affects the forelimbs , and wasting occurs that may continue for weeks or even months.
            Dark , tarry stool , lethargy and urinary incontinence is seen in later stages of the disease.
            Appetite is not lost unless the ferret is severely debilitated.
            A slow wasting disease exits without neurologic signs in ferrets.

 Rule out chart for ferrets based on clinical signs
 

Clinical sign	Differential diagnosis
Abdominal enlargement  : mass	Pregnant Full/blocked bladder secondary to urolithiasis Idiopathic splenomegaly Adrenal mass Lymphosarcoma GI foreign body Metastasis of other neoplasia Splenomegaly secondary to anesthesia Tuberculosis Histoplasma Polycystic kidneys
Abdominal enlargement  : fluid	Ascites Cardiomyopathy Peritonotis Neoplasia
Abortion	Salmonella Septicemia Trauma Underlying metabolic disease
Alopecia	Dermatomycosis Ectoparasites ( Sarcoptes spp. ) Ctenocephalides
Alopecia ( symmetricalindicative of endocrinopathy : rat tail ,comedone , swollen vulva )	Hyperadrenocorticism  Hyperestrogenism  ( ovarian remnant in spayed female , intact female )
Alopecia	Mast cell tumor Seasonal variation
Anorexia	GI foreign body Trichobezoar Proliferative bowel disease Campylobacter / Helicobacter Gastric ulcer Cardiomyopathy Upper respiratory disease Pneumonia Neoplasia Dental disease Renal disease Liver disease Peracute anorexia : gastric dilatation due to foreign body , Clostridium Gorging
Conjunctivitis	Trauma Foreign body Canine distemper Influenza
Constipation	GI foreign body Dehydration ( may follow diarrhea )
Cyanotic mucous membrane	Respiratory compromise Pneumonia Dyspnea Heartworms
Dental disease	Underlying systemic disease contribution
Diarrhea	Rotavirus Proliferative bowel disease ( Helicobacter mustelae , Desulfovibrio , Campylobacter ) GI foreign body Salmonella Aleutian disease Eosinophillic gastroenteritis Food allergy GI parasitism
Dyspnea	Acute : anaphylactic or allergic reaction Electric shock Heat stress Hyperadrenocorticism Megaesophagus Abdominal enlargement due to ascites , mass or organomegaly Pleural edema due to cardiomyopathy , trauma , heartworm Pleural effusion due to a space occupying mass in thorax Lymphosarcoma Pneumonia Trauma - diaphragmatic hernia fracture : ribs , cranium , nasal jaws , dental direct chest trauma crush compression , hematoma
Fever	Heat stress Septicemia / systemic disease including pyelonephritis , pain / inflammation
Hematuria	Urolithiasis Cystitis Urethral obstruction Pyelonephritis
Hypersalivation( See also neurologic , vomiting )	Dental / oral irritation  Gastritis , ulcer Gastroenteritis Eosinophillic gastroenteritis Pancreatitis GI foreign body Heat stress Insulinoma Miscellaneous condition : electric condition , rabies
Icteric mucous membrane	Liver disease Cirrhosis / fatty degeneration Sequele to diabetes mellitus or pancreatitis Cholecystitis Toxicity
Mastitis	Neoplasia Bacterial infection Trauma from nursing
Neurologic signs( Seizures , convulsion ,ataxia ) See also hypersalivation ,weakness , paralysis	Seizure  Acute seizure or convulsion  : anaphylaxis or allergic  Azotemia 9 renal disease , failure ) Botulism Canine distemper Electric shock Hyperglycemia Infectious encephalitis - bacterial esp. cryptococcosis Insulinoma Lead toxicity Listeriosis Rabies Toxicities Trauma
Organomegaly	Spleen - idiopathic hypersplenism splenomegaly due to anesthesia Lymphosarcoma Adrenal enlargement - hyperplasia adenoma adenocarcinoma Lymph nodes lymphadenopathy due to systemic infection lymphosarcoma tuberculosis   Abdominal - gastric or enteric ( neoplasia or foreign body )  Bladder - urinary obstruction lithiasis , neoplasia Renal ; cysts , hydronephrosis neoplasia  Cardiomegaly - dilatative or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy rule out heartworm
Pale mucous membrane	Anemia due to hypersplenism Neoplasia including lymphosarcoma Hypothermia Trauma , shock
Paresis / paralysis see also weakness, neurologic	Any debilitating system illness including aleutian  disease , neoplasia , renal disease Botulism Myelitis Encephalomyelitis Post exercise : insulinoma cardiomyopathy Rabies Tuberculosis Trauma
Pruritus	Bacterial dermatitis Ectoparasite Hyperadrenocorticism Mast cell tumor
Respiratory sign   coughing , dyspnea conjunctivitis , upper respiratory disease , sneezing	Cardiomyopathy  Pneumonia  Influenza Canine distemper Irritants Neoplasia Heat stress Corneal injury Mechanical pressure from abdomen Diaphragmatic hernia Space occupying masses Tooth abscess
Respiratory sign ( rhinitis , sinusitis )	Infectious Foreign body Particulates or irritants
Seizure	Epilepsy Insulinoma Acute toxicity Extreme pain Renal failure Neoplasia Stravation Heat stroke Trauma Canine distemper
Stranguria , dysuria	Urolithiasis Cystitis Urethral obstruction
Swollen vulva	Estrus Hyperadrenocorticism Ovarian remnant in spayed female
Vomiting , regurgitation	Pain esp. head pain Nausea GI foreign body including trichobezoar Gastric ulcer Gastritis Eosinophilic gastroenteritis Heat stress Ingestion of toxin material Liver / pancreatic disease Megaesophagus
Weakness	Hypoglycemia due to insulinoma Sepsis Stravation Severe GI disease preventing absorption Hypermotility Parasitism Adrenal associated endocrinopathy Hypothyroiodism Anemia due to lymphosarcoma , blood loss , hyperestrinism Cardiomyopathy
Weight loss	Aleutian disease Chronic GI foreign body Dental disease Gastroenteritis Gastric ulcer Proloferative bowel disease Intestinal parasite Megaesophagus Mycotic disease Neoplasia Lymphosarcoma Tuberculosis Pyelonephritis Renal disease Cardiomyopathy

   
 

Main Menu/ Link/ Biology/ Care and Management of Guinea pigs/ Drugs/ Disease/ PHOTO GALLERY/ Introduction/ Ferret/ Chinchilla/ Gerbil/ Guinea pigs/ Hamster/ Hedgehog/

 manosh@health.moph.go.th