Common Ferret Medical Conditions Part I

Ferrets may be tough little guys, but their health can be delicate at times. Due to their size and internal make-up, it is important to pay close attention to their overall behavior so any health needs can be addressed quickly. This series is dedicated to giving you some cues to let you know your ferret may be in trouble. I am not a vet and if you are ever seriously concerned about your ferret’s health, don’t take the time to check out my site - get to the vet! These are some symptoms and possibilities you should be aware of before your ferret is sick!

My ferret has lumps on his body and/or feet!

Some possibilities are:

• Cysts

• Tumors (usually benign but malignant on rare ocassions, so have them checked out just to be sure)

• Abscess (a pocket of infection under the skin that will cause big problems if left untreated)

• Dietary Issue

•Vaccine Reaction

I recommend having all lumps checked out by your vet. If it is removed, your vet will probably want to have it sent off to a pathologist for analysis. This is the only way to be sure of what you’re dealing with. It may be an additional cost, but it is worth it.

My ferret is having difficulty using or is dragging the hind feet, has an awkward gait or just isn’t moving around a lot!

In older ferrets, this could be arthritis. In any age ferret it could be a sign of an adrenal or islet cell tumor (insulinoma). Both of these kinds of tumors are very common in ferrets. Almost all of ours developed them sometime in their lives, most as they aged significantly. You can choose to be as aggressive as you want to be in treatment. Surgery to remove the tumor(s) can be effective, but extremely costly. Sedation is also a high risk for ferrets, or any small animal for that matter. We opted to treat ours with medications that controlled the more uncomfortable symptoms and they lived long lives without the surgery.

These symptoms could also indicate an injury. Ferrets have extremely flexible spins, but they are easily injured. A fall, being stepped on, closed in a door, or any number of incidents could result in an injury to your ferret that would result in these symptoms.

Get it checked out by your vet.

Overheating

Ferrets overheat very easily! Temperatures as low as the lower 80s can cause serious overheating in a ferret. Always make sure your ferret has plenty of water and shade. Don’t leave your ferret in a hot car. Don’t place your ferret’s cage near a hot radiator. Walks on very hot days can be dangerous as well. Overheating is life threatening for a ferret, so do your best to keep him cool! If he becomes lethargic or begins breathing hard/panting, get him some water immediately and keep a close eye on him in a cool place.

My ferret has dull eyes and loose skin!

These symptoms together are most often caused by dehydration. In any small animal dehydration is quite serious. See if you can get him to drink on the way to the vet for some subcutaneous fluids. If you can, figure out why your ferret became dehydrated in the first place. Maybe there is an underlying medical cause your vet can help you determine, or maybe his water bottle became clogged and your ferret’s water access became limited.

My ferret is losing his hair!

Ferrets do shed seasonally and it may seem concerningly excessive at times. But if you are able to see bare patches of skin, there is most likely an underlying cause. Hair loss that begins at the tail and eventually moves up the body can be a sign of an adrenal gland tumor. Go get it checked out by your vet.

There are more common ferret medical issues to come. If you have a question regarding your ferret’s behavior or medical condition (after you consult your vet), please ask the Ferret Expert!