Common Ferret Medical Conditions Part 3

This is the final post in the Common Ferret Medical Conditions series. If you missed the first two you can check them out here:

Part 1

Part 2

My ferret is having seizures or episodes of “zoning out”!

It seems pretty obvious that seizures indicate some kind of problem, right? There are multiple causes for these, but most often the result of insulinomas in the pancreas causing extremely low blood sugar. The tricky part is actually recognizing the behavior as a seizure. Most people think of a seizure being convulsions and shaking. However, if your ferret seems to “zone out” and stare into space for periods of time and become unresponsive during these periods, these episodes may be seizures due to low blood sugar. First, have a thorough check done by your vet. If it is indeed an insulinoma, a trick that we found to work pretty well in conjunction with meds was putting a small amount of corn syrup in his mouth and it would “wake him up” from the episode pretty quickly.

My ferret is suddenly refusing to use the litter box!

This could be a result of stress from a change in environment or maybe he’s trying to tell you he’s in some kind of pain or discomfort. It’s best to have an evaluation done from your vet if you’re sure it’s not stress related or lasts more than a few days.

My ferret has stopped having bowel movements!

When a ferret stops pooping, it’s a big problem! The first thing that comes to mind is an intestinal blockage. A ferret can defecate for up to 24 hours after a blockage occurs to empty out what was already in the intestines. And he can actually eliminate a thin stringy amount (like pencil lead or yarn size) even with a blockage. If your ferret has had this issue for 24 hours, seek medical attention immediately! I would go after 12 hours. You probably know by now that ferrets poop roughly every 2-3 hours. So 24 hours is several missed stools. Better to stay on top of it.  This is another important reason to ferret-proof your home thoroughly. More often than not, lack of stool is due to a lack of food intake which is also a serious problem, so either way, get him checked out ASAP.

My ferret is lethargic, not playing, not eating and/or has dull glassy eyes!

These symptoms are due to any number pf problems that can be very problematic, so I recommend going to your vet as soon as possible for an examination.

My ferret’s abdomen is swollen and/or seems painful!

A painful and/or bloated abdomen can be attributed to any one of the following issues:

• Heart disease

• Splenic enlargement

• Being overweight

• Intestinal blockage (not all blockages cause these symptoms though)

• Any number of disorders

The best course of action is, again, see your vet.

My neutered male ferret is displaying whole male behaviors!

A few possibilities are an undecended testicle that wasnt removed at neutering or bladder stones. The most common reason for this behavior however is adrenal disease. (If you’ve been following this series, you’ve figured out by now just how common adrenal disease is in ferrets) The signs of a neutered male diplaying whole male behaviors are trying to mate, dribbling urine to mark territory, becoming aggressive or having erections. Surgery is most likely the best option when these sypmtoms are displayed. See your vet for all of your options for treatment.

This concludes our Common Ferret Medical Conditions Series. It’s important to be aware of a ferret’s specific medical needs as they are unlike other house pets like cats and dogs.