Ferret Health

Aleutian disease is a parvovirus that ferrets contract from other ferrets and mink. As the virus spreads through a ferret’s body, the ferret’s antibodies -- the protective immune system -- attack the virus, forming complexes which collect in the kidneys, liver, spleen, and other organs causing them to fail.   The disease is incurable and if you have a multi-ferret household, you should consider testing your other ferrets for Aleutian disease and having them euthanized should they be positive.

There are many different types and causes of diarrhea in ferrets. Relatively common among animals, it can cause loose stool, stomach pains and other gastrointestinal problems in ferrets. Diarrhea can also be a secondary symptom to another (sometimes more serious) condition.   Symptoms and Types  The symptoms of diarrhea will depend on the underlying cause and severity of the illness, but most often include watery or loose stools, abdominal swelling or distension, and lethargy. If it persists for long periods of time, it can even cause the ferret to become dehydrated.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy   Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rare condition that causes a ferret's heart to enlarge or become weak. Often, the animal's heart experiences increasing thickness, especially in the left ventricular. High blood pressure and other side effects can also occur because of this disorder.   Symptoms   Many times there are no overt or outward symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in ferrets, at least not initially. There are many ferrets that simply die suddenly and are diagnosed only during a post-mortem autopsy.

  Fleas are small, usually dark-colored, wingless insects that affect many different animals, including ferrets. Once it attaches itself to the ferret's skin, it will bite the animal and feed of its blood, causing skin irritations and even anemia. While most ferrets are not overly sensitive to fleas, some may develop allergies. Fleas also reproduce quite quickly, laying batches of eggs on the host, which can then spread to the ferret's habitat or anything it touches.

Ringworms   Ringworms is a typical fungal disease which affects ferrets, regardless of age and gender; however, it is more common in young and infant ferrets. Ringworm infection in ferrets is due to two types of fungi: Micwspomm canis and Trichophyton mentagmphytes.   Other fungal diseases like fungal pneumonia (blastomycosis) or fungal infections of the central nervous system (cryptococcal meningitis), are uncommon in ferrets, but can occur when its immunity is low.

Hairballs   Ferrets require very little grooming from owners because they prefer to groom themselves.   Symptoms and Types Ingested hairballs may cause vomiting, decreased appetite or intestinal obstruction.   Not all ferrets vomit when they ingest hairballs. Some will stop eating or eat less – at least compared to their regular diet – while others will pass thin stool with hair in it, appearing like small amounts of ribbon.   Causes Ferrets shed twice each year: fall and spring.

Hyperadrenocorticism    Ferrets suffer from various hormonal disorders. And since ferrets mature sexually quickly -- as young as four months of age -- these disorders tend to show early in life.   In hyperadrenocorticism, the adrenal cortex overproduces the ferret's sex hormones -- progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen. This occurs in ferrets not yet spayed (or neutered) and at any age.   Symptoms and Types The most common sight seen in ferrets affected by hyperadrenocorticism is hair loss, which begins on the tail and rump and progresses up the body, towards the head.

Coccidiosis   Parasitic infections are common in ferrets, especially young ferrets. And although parasitic infections can occur on the skin and in other parts of the body, they are often found in the digestive tract (i.e., the stomach and intestines). One such infection, coccidiosis, is most problematic within the United States and is generally caused by two types of protozoal parasites: eimeria and isospora coccidian. A ferret infected with either parasite will primarily display diarrhea and lethargy. These parasites may also be contagious for humans and dogs.

Anorexia   Anorexia is a very serious condition which causes a ferret to lose its appetite, refuse to eat, and thus lose a dangerous amount of weight. Typically, ferrets lose their desire to eat due to systemic or total body diseases, however, psychological causes are another factor; this is referred to pseudoanorexia.