Ferrets

A female ferret is called a:

Jill

Which neoplasia of the beta cells of the pancreatic islets is the most common in ferrets?

Insulinoma

The musky smell of ferrets can be attributed to their:

sebaceous glands

Which method of restraint can be used to calm a ferret for simple procedures such as nail trimming?

Grasping the skin over the back of the neck and suspending the animal

A ferret presents with weight loss, ataxia, and progressive wasting, and the clinical diagnostics indicate signs of glomerulonephritis. What is the most likely problem?

Aleutian disease virus

At what temperature are ferrets prone to heat stroke?

85 F

Which type of injection may require a longer needle in fall and winter months as the animal develops a thick layer of fat during this time?

SQ

Why should boxes or towels be provided in ferret cages?

They allow them to burrow and hide

Which disease has a near 100% mortality rate in unvaccinated ferrets?

Distemper

Ferrets have been used to study which disease of dogs?

Distemper

Mustelidae animals

Ferrets, minks, weasels, skunks

Mustela putorius furo

Domestic ferret

• Originated from the European ferret - Mustela putorius

Mustela nigripes

Black-footed ferret

• Only ferret native to North American (western U.S. and Canada)

Musky scent of ferrets

• From active sebaceous glands

• Secretions increase during breeding season

• Offensive?

  • Descenting - surgically removing scent glands

  • Neutering - reduce scent in males

  • Never completely eliminated

• Anal glands also secrete serous yellow liquid with strong odor

  • Surgical removal

Ferret share antomical similarties with what?

• Humans

• Canines

• Felines

Ferrets as animal models

• Influenza viral studies

  • Closely resembles the human symptoms, viral distribution, and immunity

• Neuroendocrinology studies

• Toxicology studies

• Canine distemper studies

Jill

Intacts Female ferret

Sprite

Spayed female ferret

Hob

Intact male ferret

Gib

Neutered ferret

Kits

Ferret less than 1 year old

Fesnyng

a group of ferrets

Lifespan of the average ferret

8 years

Female ferret characteristics

• Larger than males

• Vulva is ventral to anus, small slit-like opening

• Seasonally polyestrous

• Induced ovulator

• Respond to changing photoperiods- increase daylight, increase fertility

• Persistent hyperestrogenism suppress bone marrow and increases risk of anemia

Male ferret characteristics

• ID by presence of penis and testicles

• OS penis palpable

Behavior of ferrets

• Easy to house and handle

• Friendly and inquisitive

• House alone or in groups

• Rarely bite unless frightened or in pain

• Females with litters may be aggressive

• Males housed together may fight during breeding season

• Burrowers

• May bump into objects due to poor vision

• Easily litter trained

What did domestic ferrets most likely descend from

the European polecat

How long ago were ferrets domesticated

2,500 years ago

• historyically they were used to hunt rabbtis and rodents

• The lean bodies and curious nature made then natural at getting down holes to chase them out of burrows - this is where the term “ferret out” came from

What is the term ferret derived from?

Furittus, meaning “little thief”

HR of Ferret

200-250bpm

When are ferrets most active

Dawn and dusk

What are all kits born with

white fur and get their approximate adult color at 3 weeks

How can ferrets get heartworm

From the bite of an infected mosquito

• they are similar to dogs in their susceptibility to this infection, but their symptoms are more similar to those seen in cats

What do you prevent heartworm in ferrets with?

there are 2 drugs containing: imidacloprid and moxidectin, FDA approved

Husbandry for ferrets

• Can be housed in cat, dog, or rabbit cages

  • If modified to prevent escaping

• Solid-bottom floors

  • Small feet can be injured on wire cages

• Nest boxes, hammocks, or soft towels

  • Allow for burrowing and hiding

• Cooler temps

  • Prone to heat stroke if over 80F

• Good ventilation

  • Reduces fumes from waste and keep temperature from rising

Temporary ID of ferrets

• Cage cards

• Description of markings is less accurate as color may change during breeding season

Permanent ID of ferrets

• Microchip

• Tattoos

• Ear tags

• Ear punches

Nutrition for ferrets

• Carnivorous

• Commercial ferret chow

• Cat food if it has at least 30% protein

• Large, heavy bowls placed on cage floor

  • Indestructible and unable to turn over

• Water in heavy bowl or water bottle

If more restraint is need for ferrets

• Grasp the loose skin over neck and hold animal suspended

• Tends to calm ferrets

• Nail trims

Restraint for more invasive procedures

• Hand across shoulders, with thumb under chin and fingers around the neck and behind forelimbs

• Other hand restrains hindquarters by placing hand across the pelvis cranial to the rear limb

• Can wrap in towel

Typically restraint for a coraperative ferret

Cradling in crook of arm

Oral administration of drugs

• In a suspension to administer as liquid

• Syringe

• Feed tube

  • No cough reflex

  • Proper placement of feeding tube

  • Confirm with aspiration

  • Mouth gag

SQ injection

• loose skin over shoulder

  • In winter a thick layer of fat in the SQ space - may need a longer needle

IM injection

quadriceps or semimembranous muscles; 2 people required

IP injection

lower abdomen

IV injection

cephalic, saphenous, or jugular

Blood collection in ferrets

• Anterior vena cava or jugular vein are preferred sites

• Lateral saphenous and cephalic vein can be used

  • Difficult to visualize; small volume

• Restraint similar to feline restraint for blood collection

• Retroorbital sinus

  • Anesthetized only; small volume

Bone marrow collection in ferrets

• Used to evaluate anemic ferrets

• Proximal femur most common collection site

• Iliac crest, tibial crest, humerus can also be used

• Anesthesia and aseptic technique required

IV catheter in ferrets

• Hospitalization or surgical procedures

• Place in lateral saphenous or cephalic vein

• Sedation or anesthesia required

  • Topical anesthetic if unable

• Same technique as felines

Anesthesia in ferrets

• Similar to feline

• Inhalation

  • Isoflurane or Sevoflurane

• Masked induction or chamber

• Short procedures—injectables

• Long procedures—intubation

  • Not difficult

Asssessing depth of anesthesia

• Palpebral reflex, heart and respiration rates, and muscle tension

• Same monitoring parameters

• Fast for no more than 8 hours prior to anesthesia

Euthanasia in ferrets

• IV injection overdose of barbiturate

• Carbon dioxide chamber may be used with sedation

Diagnostic imaging

• Sedation or anesthesia required

• Whole body images commonly obtained

• Stockinet may be used for positioning

• Contrast films taken more rapidly due to faster GI transit time

• Techniques similar to feline patients

Other diagnostic procedures

Urinary catheterization, tracheal wash, FNA all use similar techniques as those used for feline patients

Vaccines for ferrets

• Vaccine administered SQ

• 6-8 weeks of age with boosters every 2 weeks- total of 3 doses

• Annual vaccination required

• Ferrets in research settings receive vaccines for canine distemper and diseases caused by Bordetella and Pseudomonas spp.

• Rabies vaccine is usually administered at 3 months with an annual booster

• Some localities may require IM administration

Recommended vaccnine fore ferrets

Canine distemper

Bacterial diseases

• Desulfovibrio

Desulfovibrio

• The most serious

• Campylobacter-like organism

• Causative agent for proliferative bowl disease

• Clinical signs- tenesmus, production of small, frequent bowel movements with frank blood and mucus

• Rectal prolapse can occur

• Fatal if left untreated

Viral diseases

• Canine distemper

• Rabies

• Influenza

• Coronavirus and rotavirus

• Aleutian disease

Canine distemper

• Nearly 100% fatal in unvaccinated ferrets

• Signs of infection appear 7-10 days post exposure

• Photophobia, mucopurulent discharge from eyes/nose, hyperkeratosis of footpads, rash on chin and inguinal area, bronchopneumonia

• Animal model

Rabies

• Rarely seen

• Nervous system abnormalities

• State and local laws - human bites

Influenza

• Susceptible to both type A and B

• Transmission

  • Aerosol droplets from infected human in household

• Clinical signs similar to human symptoms

Coronavirus and Rotavirus

• Highly transmissible diarrheal diseases (ex. Epizootic catarrheal enteritis)

• Young ferrets usually asymptomatic

Aleutian disease

• Caused by parvovirus

• Hyperhammaglobulinemia

  • Glomerulonephrit is, bile duct proliferation, weight loss, ataxia, wasting

• Transmission

  • Direct contact with infected body fluids or fomites

• No definitive treatment

Intestinal parasites

are uncommon except for Coccidia

Ectoparasites

• Sarcoptes scabiei

• Ctenocephalides species—fleas

• Otodectes cynotis—ear mites

• Treatment same as for felines and canines

Heartworm in ferrets

Dirofilaria immitis

• Use heartworm preventative

Dental disease

• High incidence of periodontal disease, fractures

• Dietary factors

Urolithiasis

• Rare if fed high-quality ferret or kitten food

• Most common struvite

• More common in males

Neoplasias

• Insulinoma

• Adrenocortical neoplasia

• Malignant lymphoma

• Benign basal cell tumors

Insulinoma

• Tumor of beta cells of the pancreatic islets

• Most common neoplasia in ferrets

• Diagnosis based on clinical signs and hypoglycemia

• Surgical excision required

• Recurrence likely

Adrenocortical neoplasia

• 2nd most common neoplasia

• Hypersecretion of estrogen in females and testosterone in males

• Clinical signs include bilateral, symmetrical alopecia

• Vulvar swelling in jills, behavioral changes in hobs

• Surgical excision or medical management of clinical signs

Malignant lymphoma

• 3rd most common neoplasia

• Occurs at any age, any gender

• Solid tissue tumors

• Anemia

• Histological or cytological exam for diagnosis

• Treatment- chemo, radiation, palliative care

Benign basal cell tumors

• Most common skin neoplasia

• Treated effectively with surgical excision

Hyperestrogenism

• Aplastic anemia

• Intact females

• Persistent estrus if not bred

• Pet ferrets not intended to be bred should be spayed

Megaesophagus

• Uncommon, but fatal

• Similar presentation to what is seen in felines and canines

Causes of GI forein body

Curious animals

Noninfectious diseases

• Dental disease

• Urolithiasis

• Neoplasia

• hyperestrogenism

• Dermatophytosis - similar to disease in felines

• Megaesophagus

• GI foreign bodies