Ferrets

What are the two species of ferrets?

Black-footed ferret and domestic ferret

Which species is the most common lab/pet ferret?

Domestic ferret

Where is the black-footed ferret native to?

North America

Why is the black-footed ferret almost extinct?

Eats prairie dogs → prairie dogs killed off

Where were domestic ferrets domesticated?

Europe

What were domestic ferrets used for in Europe for thousands of years?

Hunting and vermin control

What Latin phrase does the scientific name for the domestic ferret come from?

Smelly thief

What is the life span of a ferret?

6-8 years

What do ferrets develop on their eyes as they age?

Nuclear sclerosis (cloudy lens)

Describe weight fluctuation of ferrets.

Fluctuates up to 40% due to fat accumulation in fall and loss during the spring breeding season

Weight fluctuates less in ___________ ferrets.

Neutered

Ferrets may _______ in the spring and change colors.

Molt

What teeth do ferrets have?

Incisors, canines, premolars, molars

Which ferret teeth grow continuously?

None

When do ferret deciduous and permanent teeth erupt?

14 days, 47-52 days

Why should you not house estrus females together?

May induce ovulation and pseudopregnancy in each other

Describe the ferret penis.

J-shaped os penis

What reproductive structures do male ferrets lack?

Seminal vesicles and bulbourethral glands

What is unique about the ferret GI tract?

Very little intestine

Do ferrets have a cecum?

No

What is the transit time through the ferret GI tract?

3-4 hours

Describe the ferret diet.

Obligate carnivores

Ferrets commonly ingest…

Foreign bodies

Most ferret odor comes from _____________ glands in the skin.

Sebaceous

Which glands do ferrets express when frightened?

Anal/musk glands

Ferret glands are under __________ control, so ____________ helps to limit odors.

Androgenous; neutering

What kind of diet do you feed ferrets?

Ferret-specific

The USDA and the Guide do not provide ferret cage size requirements, so AAALAC uses ___________ as the standard.

ETS 123

What kind of caging is used for ferrets when studying respiratory diseases?

Isolation/transmission cages

Ferrets can be trained to use the…

Litter box

What do ferrets do when you scruff them? Why?

Yawn → stimulates vagus nerve (parasympathetic)

Intact male ferret

Hob

Intact female ferret

Jill

Young ferret

Kit

Spayed female ferret

Sprite

Neutered male ferret

Gib

When do ferrets reach puberty?

Spring after birth (5-9 months old)

Female ferrets are _________ ovulators.

Induced

Female ferrets remain in estrous up to _______ days if not bred.

180

Female ferrets must be bred or spayed because persistent estrous leads to _________.

Aplastic anemia and death

How can you detect estrous in female ferrets?

Swelling of the vulva

During ferret breeding, the male and female become ______.

Tied

What is the average ferret litter size?

8

How many litters can ferrets have each year?

2

Female ferrets are prone to __________ their young.

Cannibalize

Blood collection locatations in a ferret

• Jugular vein (large samples)

• Cranial vena cava (large samples)

• Lateral saphenous vein (catheterization)

• Cephalic vein (small samples)

• Tail vein

Clinical signs of ferret illness

• Lethargy

• Dehydration

• Excessive weight loss

• Anorexia

• Pale mucous membranes

• Facial expressions

• Diarrhea

• Cough

________ reactions are common in ferrets.

Vaccine

Name four preventative healthcare treatments in ferrets.

• Canine distemper vaccination

• Rabies vaccination

• Heartworm testing/prevention

• Teeth cleaning

What kind of research are ferrets used in?

• Universal flu vaccine

• COVID