Ferret Health





Here are some things to watch for in a Ferrets life. Always check with your veterinarian if you have any medical questions.



    1. Good quality Ferret and/or Kitten food (it is wise to get a Ferret used to different types of food just in case one food is not available at the time needed, and to ease possible diahrrea when food has to be changed). It may be a good idea to give your Ferret every now and again a little "Duck Soup" to get it used to the taste and in case of illness the Ferret will readily eat it. Ducksoup is very high in calories and proteins and it is used to help a Ferret gain lost weight and to build up his/her immune system during an illness.

    2. When giving treats, give treats sparingly (try getting your Ferret used to eating things like "Meat only" baby foods; this will help when your Ferret is ill and don't want to eat.), too many treats can and will cause Tarter on a Ferrets teeth. Good treats are (in very small amounts); fully cooked chicken-without spices- or other fully cooked "meats" high in protein, Raisins-very sparingly, some cereals are ok as a treat but only the kind without sugar, like cheerios. Remember to give treats only sparingly!

    3. ALWAYS have fresh water and food available for your Ferret friends.

    4. Ferrets get "hairballs" just like cats but they can not rid themselves of a hairball like a cat can, it is therefore important to give your ferret a hairball remedy designed for ferrets or cats/kittens, or use "Pure Petroleum Jelly". A hairball can block the Ferrets intestines and can be fatal if not caught in time.

    5.Watch for any changes in the Ferrets weight. In the spring time a Ferret will lose weight up to 1/4th of his normal weight. If it seems to have lost more weight than that, see your veterinarian.

    6. Watch for spotty hairloss, it could be a sign of the beginning stages of "Adrenal Disease". If a Ferret loses only a very small amount of hair on the tail and the loss is distributed evenly over the entire tail, this is a yearly occurance during shedding season. A lot of hairloss concentrated in one area means you need to take your Ferret friend to a vet and have it tested for adrenal disease.

    7. In the Spring and Summer time keep an eye on your Ferret when temperatures reach 80°F and over. A Ferret suffers easily from heat stress and some of the signs to look for are: Is the temperature in the house over 80°F? Does your Ferret just lay in its cage with its mouth open and tounge hanging out? These are some of the symptoms of heat stress and it is a good idea to have some "Ferret Aide" on hand. Also make sure to see your vet as quickly as possible.

    8. Fleas can be a pain in the rump year around. They may make your Ferret ill by spreading diseases. Watch for signs of excessive scratching and biting all over the body and of course tiny brown to black colored animals jumping, crawling around your Ferrets. Chances are your Ferret is entertaining fleas. Ask your vet about "Advantage" or other type of flea-control to keep the fleas off your Ferret.

    9. Ferrets need vaccinations just like dogs and cats to prevent serious or fatal illness. A Ferret will die from distemper, this is why they need "distemper" shots once per year. Some of our Ferrets here at the shelter have severe reactions to their yearly shots and it is because of this this reason, that we remain at our veterinarian for at least 45 min. after the injection. Ferrets are also required by law to be vaccinated against the rabies virus once per year. This is very important when traveling with your Ferret.

    10. Be an active "poop"watcher when it comes to Ferrets, for if you keep an eye on your Ferrets " poop" you will see when changes happen, and with that you and your Veterinarian may be able to prevent a possibly life threatening illness.

    11. Sometimes Ferrets sneeze a little. If it is excessive, continuous or alot, try using a couple of drops of "Upper Respitory Remedy" on the outside of each nostril.

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