Why do we see ferrets in practice?
In the past few years, it’s been great to see how the treatment and nursing of our small furry friends has improved. With more practices registered with the RWAF as ‘Rabbit Friendly’ and many surgeries getting involved with ‘guinea pig awareness week’ you get a feeling that more vets and nurses are becoming really savvy on treating our small furies. But can we say the same about our ferret patients?
Ferrets have been kept as pets in some states of America for many years now. They are becoming increasingly popular in the Unites Kingdom. Some are used for hunting while others are kept as pets. They are cheeky, inquisitive characters and when used to human contact can be very tame. Yet there seems to be a lack of confidence when it comes to treating them in general practice.
It’s brilliant we have so many exotic specialists in the UK, which I know my team have relied on for referral and advice in the past. But how can we improve the treatment of our ferret patients in general practice? Surely, we need to be more confident with the basics and what to look out for when addressing signs of illness.
We are likely to see ferrets in general practice for things like vaccinations, hormone implants, neutering (considering the risks of adrenal disease which will be explained later), nurse clinics involving nail clips , post op checks and of course for illnesses and emergencies.
Ferrets can be easily accommodated in an existing small animal practice, Special equipment needs are minimal’ Katherine E. Quesenberry, DVM
How veterinary nurses can conduct a ferret health check.
Nurses can play a huge part in improving ferret care and I feel we should be actively encouraging our ferret owners to be booking a routine nurse health check every 6 months. As nurses are highly skilled, they can pick up on any health issues that need to be referred to a vet. They can also discuss husbandry, nutrition, health care and conduct dental checks.
Here I would like to discuss the basics of a routine ferret health check.
Firstly, check the clinical history like you would do for any other patient and keep in mind any issues noted from past visits. Once the owner comes into the consult room and before getting the ferret out of the carrier, give the owner the opportunity to discuss how the patient is currently doing.
Note down any points on the clinical history as it is easy to forget important information once the examination takes place.
Write down any changes in diet, drinking habits, body condition changes, changes in faeces/ urine and any other issues reported by owner. Check how long they have been present.
It is also helpful to ask the owner how the ferret handles.
Now you are ready to begin the health check.
- Before opening the carrier look to see how the ferret is behaving. Most ferrets are very inquisitive and will be eager to come out to say hello. Is the ferret lively and bright? if the ferret is more subdued, check if this behaviour Is normal for this patient as lethargy could be a sign of something serious.
- Open the carrier and let the ferret leave on its own accord. Ferret eyesight is developed for dark environments and an approaching finger could be something to investigate with teeth.
- If the ferret is well handled, then light restraint can be used by placing one hand to support the thorax and one hand to support the pelvis. If the ferret tends to bite, then on this occasion scruffing may be necessary to assess the patient. Although it should be explained to the owner this is not to be routinely done at home. It is worth noting that scruffing a ferret will encourage the ferret to yawn, and it is at this point you can get a good look inside the ferret’s mouth. Check as you would for any other animal as teeth should be clean and gums pink. Check for signs of gingivitis, plaque build-up and broken teeth.
Ferrets can undergo a scale and polish under a general anaesthetic just like a dog or cat.
‘Dental disease and dental tartar are commonly present and are exacerbated by feeding of soft foods or inappropriate treats’ Katherine E. Quesenberry, DVM
- Eyes – Assess for brightness, lesions, swellings, or discharge. If cataracts are present, check when first noticed.
- Nares – inspect for nasal discharge and check for any history of sneezing or coughing.
- Ears – Some ferrets may tolerate otoscope examination but if not, issues can be easily seen as fur loss around the ears, wax build up may indicate ear mites otodectes cynotis. At this point a swab can be taken if the owner agrees and microscopic examination can confirm any parasites. It is at this point you can demonstrate how to clean the ears to the owner and check if the ferret receives any parasite protection.
- Skin – Check the coat for general characteristics for example is it shiny or dull, alopecia? At this point you should check with the owner if the ferret has been pruritic. Bilateral alopecia accompanied with some behaviour changes may indicate adrenal disease. A dull coat can be a sign of general debility.
This is not to be confused with autumnal rat tail when the ferret where fur loss on the tail is non progressive and usually grows back in 4-8 weeks.
The coat should be checked for any crusts, lesions or masses. Mass cell tumours are common in ferrets.
Check for ticks especially if the ferret is a hunter.
- Limbs – check for general muscle wastage as this could indicate an issue with that area.
Check the feet for any damage ‘masses are common the distal limbs and claw loss or damage can be a cause of lameness’John Chitty.
- Chest – The chest should not feel solid but rather supple and a paediatric stethoscope should be used to auscultate the lungs. Soft air sounds are normal as crackles warrant further investigation from a vet.
- Heart – Ferrets have a fast heart rate of around 180-250 bpm and a sinus arrhythmia are not uncommon. It can be difficult to hear a murmur on such a rapid heartbeat but if unsure check with a vet.
- Genital area – Check for vulvar enlargement in females. An enlarged vulva in a spayed female can be indictive of adrenal disease. If the female is entire, she will need to be brought out of season as ferrets are induced ovulators and can get a life-threatening anaemia if left in season.
For entire males check for testicular tumours. For males that have had a hormone implant check for testicle size, as the return of visible testicles indicate the implant is wearing off.
- Lymph nodes – The nodes of particular interest are submandibular, axillary, inguinal and popliteal. Any enlargement will need investigation as ferrets are very susceptible to lymphoma.
- Weight – Body condition score should be assessed. Male ferrets will lay down more fat in winter months and lose this in warmer weather. During summer months it is normal to just see the ribs through the skin. Check with the owner what is normal for that ferret.
It is now you can evaluate the consultation and decide if the patient needs to be referred to a vet and how urgently.
Common diseases in ferrets.
Some common diseases in ferrets and their characteristics are important to look out for. The three main ones are Insulinomas, adrenal disease and lymphoma.
Insulinomas are small tumours of the pancreatic beta cells and produce an excess of insulin causing hypoglycaemia. Clinical signs include lethargy, incoordination, nausea, glazed look in eyes and seizures.
Adrenal disease or hyperadrenocorticism occurs mainly in neutered ferrets. When the ferret is neutered, there is an increase in gonadotrophins (sex hormones that stimulate the gonads, or sex glands). As the gonads have been removed the gonadotrophins persistently stimulate the adrenal cortex due to a lack of negative feedback, This causes hyperplasia and tumour formation. Clinical signs are bilateral alopecia that usually begins in spring (may right itself but come back the following year so not to be confused with seasonal coat changes), vulvar swelling in spayed females, pruritus’, recurrence of sexual behaviour in neutering males and urinary obstruction in males.
Lymphomas are the third most common tumours found in ferrets. There is a juvenile version and an adult version. The juvenile version tends to be more aggressive. Clinical signs can range from weight loss, loss of appetite, peripheral lymph node enlargement and coughing in juvenile ferrets.
It is important that the ferret gets examined by a vet as soon as possible if any of the clinical signs are noted.
It would be ideal to test blood glucose levels at least twice a year in healthy ferrets that are 4 years or older. This can pick up an insulinoma and if found early can help prolong a ferret’s life.
Some tips for the ferret consultation-
Ask the owner to bring a raw egg as most ferrets cannot resist this and can be a good distraction if you are not yet confident on ferret restraint.
Find your local ferret rescue and see if they will allow you to go and meet the ferrets and practice handling.