14. Ferret Biology, Management, Diseases & Uses

Mustela putorius furo

75% of US ferrets w/ blaze or white head can suffer from rare genetic disorder ________ syndrome and are ________

-Waardenburg

-deaf

Albino ferrets have _____ and ____ thought to be due to reduction in ipsilateral projections ofcochlear nucleus to auditory midbrain.

-impaired motion perception

-contrast sensitivity

What is the recommended cage size for 2 adult ferrets?

Cage size - 24 X 24 X 18 inches (adequate for 2 adult ferrets).

What is the grid wall size if using wire mesh to house ferrets?

Grid wall Size - 1.0 x 0.5 inches or 0.25 inch if using wire mesh or slated flooring

Perforated solid-bottom caging preferred

Galvanized wire should be avoided because the potential toxicosis of _____?

No galvanized wire (Zn toxicosis from licking bars)

Can be litter box trained (no clay litter - because?)

respiratory irritant

What temperatures do ferrets tolerate well? Not so well? Why? What is the specific temperature cut off?

-low temperatures

-high temperatures

-lack well developed sweat glands

>30C (86F) - heat prostration - panting, flaccidity, vomiting

What are signs of heat prostration?

panting, flaccidity, vomiting

What is the housing temperature range? ferrets < 6 weeks old?

-4-18°C (39.2-64.4°F) for adults/juveniles;

-Ferrets <6 weeks of age should be housed at > 15 °C or 60F

-NEED heat source is separated from Mom

What is the housing humidity level?

40-65%

How many air changes per hour? Why must air be nonrecirculated?

-10-15 air changes per hour of nonrecirculated air

-strong odor of ferrets and susceptibility of ferrets to human respiratory track infections

How does odor of ferrets affect mice?

can mess up rodent breeding

Single housing is preferred for ferrets under what conditions?

-Intact males >12 wks (fighting)

-Estrous females

-Pregnant jills within 2 weeks of parturition

What can happen with cohoused females?

become pseudopregnant

Husbandry considerations for enclosures for ferrets

-molded plastic w/ perforated solid bottom, wash weekly

-absorbable paper liner underneath

-cage board within cage for burrowing

-can litterbox train

-avoid sharp edges and galvanized metal

-sleep in soft areas (hammock)

-environmental enrichment - optimal is increased floor space and compatible mates, enrichment lowers fecal glucocorticoids in juvenile males not females or adult males

Size of spacing of grid walls when using the molded plastic? What about if wire mesh?

-1in X 0.5in

-0.25in

What litter should be avoided in ferrets? Why?

-clay litter

-chronic upper respiratory irritation

What light cycle in general for ferrets (Light:Dark)?

What should breeding and lactating jills be maintained at?

-12L:12D

-16L:8D

What light cycle is crucial for ferret breeders or if housed more than 6 months?

-need winter light

-6wk per yr of 10L:14D daily

-12:12 is adequate for non breeding animals

When getting timed pregnant jills, what is essential on arrival?

preserving the photoperiod she was used to

The long and narrow trachea anatomy of ferrets are beneficial to use them as a model for?

Pediatric Intubation model

Describe the carotid arterial branching in a ferret. Is this similar or different to a human?

-Paired common carotid arteries arise from brachiocephalic trunk at level of thoracic inlet

-different from humans/rodents - right common arises from brachiocephalic trunk and left arises from aortic arch

How long is GI transit time in ferret?

short, 3 hr

Why is splenomegaly common in ferrets?

extramedullary hematopoiesis

What is special about ferret RBCs?

-no antibodies against RBC antigens

-no antibodies develop

In ferrets, scent glands can be removed at what age?

Descenting = Surgical removal (done at Large Breeding Farms at 5-6 wks of age)

"J" shaped os penis makes what medical procedure difficult

catheterization

If not bred, female can remain in estrus and develop what abnormality?

aplastic anemia

What happens when ferrets receive blood transfusion without cross match?

No natural antibodies against unmatched erythrocyte antigens

No antibodies develop with repeated blood transfusions

Ferrets show marked pulmonary vasoconstriction in response to hypoxia. This can be used to model which human disorder?

human model of pulmonary hypertension (COPD)

Average life span of ferret

-6-8years

Ferrets are strict carnivores. What % of protein and fat for non breeding and breeding/growing animals? How much starch?

-30-40% protein & 18-20% fat for non breeding

-35% protein and 25% fat for breeding/growing

-No more than 30-36% starch

Not able to digest much fiber

Require high fat and protein (readily digestible), fish not recommended due to polyunsaturated fatty acids -PUFAs

What diets are preferred in ferrets? What diets should be avoided?

-highly digestible protein & high fat

-high complex carbs or fiber or fish products, no raw meat

Why can’t ferrets be used as a model for cats for nutrition?

-digestibility of crude protein is lower, but higher for fats in ferrets

-cats can digest crude protein better than ferrets

What vitamin must be supplemented if fish is given in ferret diet?

Must supplement with Vit E if giving fish

Name the fatty acid supplement frequently used to achieve a fat content of 30% for ferrets.

Linatone- contains essential fatty acids and vitamins A, D and E

High levels of plant protein can cause what in ferrets?

urolithiasis

Why can ferrets be used as a model for metabolism of Vit A?

convert beta carotene into vit A in gut

How much water do ferrets drink in a day? Why can’t you give them water bowels?

-75-100mL/day

-will turn over unsecured water bowls

What is the breeding age for males and females ferrets?

Males - 8-12 months

Females - 4-5 months

Ferrets are what kind of breeders?

-seasonal (March to August)

-if born in late spring or early summer, will not hit puberty until following season

How can puberty be accelerated in a Jill?

-maintain at 8hr light and 16hr dark to reach it in 10-12mo

If jills are prematurely switched from short to long photoperiods prior to 90d of age, what happens?

remain in anestrus

What kind of ovulators are ferrets?

induced

Ferrets are induced ovulators. What stimulations are required to stimulate ovulation?

Both intromission and neck restraint are required for ovulation

What physical signs are the hallmark for estrus in ferrets?

Vulvar swelling

Estrous females that cohoused can lead to ______

Estrous females that are cohoused may become pseudopregnant

What light cycle can be used to synchronize estrus cycle in ferrets?

Synchronize by 8:16 (L:D) photoperiod (6-8wk), then switch to 16:8 🡪 estrus in 3 (mature jills) -4 (immature jills) weeks

Ferrets contribute to understanding of photoperiodic influences on what?

 hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis

In females ____ concentration control development and inhibit LH secretion during prepubertal life and anestrus

estradiol

Male seasonality of reproduction determined by age differences in sensitivity of negative feedback inhibition of the hypothalamic secretion of GnRH by testosterone or estrogenic compounds derived from aromatization of testosterone

idk just know this

Ferrets have 2-3wk of proestrus then estrus. What hormone does not increase unlike in the rodent?

FSH

What are the many things that might happen to a ferret after estrus?

-coitus induced ovulation

-pseudopregnancy

-pharmacologic temrination

-death due estrogen induced aplastic anemia

-spontaneous remission

-anestrus due to photoperiod

When are eggs released after coitus?

30-40h

When should ferrets be mated?

2d after 14d of vulvar enlargement

When does implantation occur in ferrets?

12d after - need CL and anterior pituitary to maintain pregnancy

What is the gestation period for ferrets?

-41d for premiparous

-42 days for multiparous

-kits in utero beyond day 43 die

-Dystocia is very common in ferrets.

What can cause dystocia in a ferret?

-positional abnormalities

-fetal oversize

When to do C section for ferret?

-no pups w/in 8 hours of prostaglandin

When can pregnancy be detected in a ferret via US, palpation, and rads?

-US -12d

-palpation - 14d

-rads - 30d

How to accomplish cross fostering in ferrets?

-leave foster kits with new jill’s kits while queen is absent

-need to be similar age

What is the placentation in ferrets?

Zonary and endotheliochorial

What is the recommended depth of nest box for ferrets?

-Minimum of 6 inch deep nest box w/ bedding

-smooth nest box entrance

When should food be offered inside the nest box to the jill?

if she won’t leave it

What can happen if a Jill doesn’t eat well during pregnancy or after parturition?

pregnancy toxemia - hypoglycemia, hyperketonemia, hypoinsulinemia, decreased T4 and T4, hepatic lipidosis

What can be used to stimulate labor when litter size too small to initiate labor? Average litter size?

-Prostaglandins (Lutalyse) followed by oxytocin

-average litter size is 8

What would be one of the reasons if the jill is inattentive to the kits after giving birth?

there may be an undelivered kit

What kind of kits do ferrets have?

altricial

When do kits gain hearing? when do their eyes open?

-Kits can hear at 32 days; eyes open at 34 days

How long are kits completely dependent on jill for? What is the weaning age for ferrets?

-first 3 weeks

-Wean at 6-8 weeks

How do you attempt to wean kits early?

-at 3-4 weeks w/ slurry of jill’s chow + fat (20% fat and 40% protein) fed twice daily

-± linatone fatty acid supplement

What should you do if you have a a lone male kit with multiple female kits wean weaning?

keep together in groups until sexually mature

Jills may return to estrus during ___ or ___ week of lactation if <5kits or _____ weeks after if normal sized litter

-2nd or 3rd week

-2 weeks after

Males >12wk of age will ____ if exposed to what?

-fight

-light >12hr/day

How to terminate estrus in jills?

-rebreed

-hCG

How long can jills be bred for?

-2-3 litters of 6+ until 5yr old

How to synchronize estrus of jills?

-manipulate photoperiod

-Non stimulatory light photoperiod (so 12:12) then switch to 6wk of 8L:16D → 16L:8D → estrus in 4weeks (immature jill) or 3 weeks (mature jill)

Which two vaccinations are recommended in ferrets?

-Canine Distemper ("PureVax", "Fervac-D")

-Rabies ("Imrab 3")

What is another name for Clostridium perfringens type A?

Clostridium welchii

What toxin does Clostridium perfringens Type A produce?

alpha toxin

What is the common predisposing factor for Clostridium perfringens Type A overgrowth?

overfeeding and sudden change in diet

What clinical signs are associated with Clostridium perfringens Type A overgrowth?

-acute abdominal distension, dyspnea, cyanosis, sudden death - WEANLING ferrets

-Markedly distended stomachs

-intestines containing gas & semiliquid ingesta

-subcutaneous emphysema with minimal or no putrefaction

How to diagnose clostridium perfringens type A in ferrets?

-isolate from GIT

-toxin ID

Treatment and control of clostridium perfringens type A?

-feed weanlings only TWICE daily not three times

-treating with supportive care is unrewarding

How is campylobacter jejuni transmitted?

-direct contact (fecal oral or contaminated food/water)

-zoonotic

What clinical signs are associated with Campylobacter jejuni? zoonotic

-self-limiting diarrhea in kits

-reproductive failure (abortion or resorption)

-placentitis in pregnant ferrets

Necropsy findings of campylobacter jejuni

-enterocolitis w/ neutrophilic inflammation

-placentitis

How to diagnose campylobacter jejuni?

-history, CS, culture

-difficult to culture - selective mediafor thermophilic, microaerophilic stuff and examine every 48hr

How to treat campylobacter jejuni?

-supportive care and antibiotics

-reculture after elimination to ensure it’s gone

-vaccine to protect

Every ferret with gastritis has what bug? What ferrets don’t have it?

-Helicobacter mustelae

-SPF ferrets, also don’t have gastritis

-nearly 100% of ferrets in the USA are infected with it shortly after weaning

Ferrets with H. mustelae are a model for what?

H. pylori infections in humans

What clinical signs are associated with Helicobacter mustelae?

-asymptomatic usually

-Intermittent tarry feces

-Gastric or duodenal ulcers

-Gastric adenocarcinoma

-both above - vomiting, melena, chronic weight loss, and lowered hematocrit

-gastric MALT lymphoma

How to diagnose Helicobacter mustelae in ferrets?

-endoscopic ID of ulcers

—gram stain, urease/catalase/oxidase production

—SILVER STAIN

—resistance to cephalothin

—sensitivity to nalidixic acid

-Culture and PCR

Ferrets are the only domesticated animal to date that has what?

naturally occuring helicobacter associated disease

Necropsy findings of ferret with helicobacter mustelae?

-stomach - organism on mucosal surface

-distal antral mucosa - full thickness inflammation (gastritis)

-organisms seen on surface, pits, entirety of glands

-liver/biliary tracts - bacteria here

—chronic cholangiohepatitis

—bile duct hyperplasia

—cholangiocellular carcinoma

What can be used to treat Helicobacter mustelae in ferrets?

-triple therapy abx - amoxicillin/bismuth/metronidazole TID for 3-4wk

-omeprazole, sucralfate, cimetidine (suppress acid secretion)

-acute bleeding gastric ulcer - fluid, blood transfusions

-Ranitidine/clarithromycin TID PO for 2 weeks

diffuse antral gastritis infected stomach AND helicobacter mustelae organisms on warthin starry stain

What clinical signs are associated with Lawsonia intracellularis?

-Proliferative bowel disease; large bowel in young ferrets

-chronic diarrhea (may be blood-tinged, mucousy, and GREEN in color), lethargy, anorexia, marked weight loss

-rectal prolapse, ataxia, muscle tremors

What is the major difference in Lawsonia intracellularis infections in ferrets vs pigs and hamsters?

*Pigs and hamsters get Lawsonia but ileitis results whereas in ferrets it is the colon