• Diet
• Diet part 2
• Diet part 3
• Enviroment
• Grooming and Handling
• Vaccinations and Routine Vet Care
• Medical Problems
• Medical Problems part 2

• The condition of the ferret at this moment (be as precise as possible)
• How long the condition has been present
• Ideas you have on why you think your pet is ill

It is helpful to jot down some notes about your pet before calling the veterinary office so you don’t forget important information.

HUMAN INFLUENZA – Ferrets are highly susceptible to the human influenza virus or the “flu”. They do not get common colds, which is caused by another set of viruses. Ferrets can get the flu from humans and humans can contract the flu from ferrets through contact with respiratory secretions. Adult ferrets develop a watery discharge from the eyes and nose, sneezing, coughing and a fluctuating fever. Occasionally they also develop diarrhea. They feel miserable for a few days but usually recover uneventfully. Baby ferrets can be more severely affected, so avoid handling baby ferrets if you have the flu. Your veterinarian may prescribe medications to make your pet more comfortable, but antibiotics are not appropriate for this disease as it is viral, not bacterial.

FATAL ANEMIA OF FEMALE FERRETS – This disease is caused when an unneutered female ferret goes into estrus or “heat” and does not get bred. She can stay in this state for several months during which time her estrogen levels remain quite high. The estrogen can eventually stop the production of blood cells in the bone marrow thereby leading to a severe anemia and ultimately death. The prevention for this disease is to have your female ferret spayed. Most American ferrets are already neutered when they are purchased so we do not see this disease as frequently as we used to.

FLEAS – Ferrets are susceptible to fleas, particularly if they are kept outdoors, but can also be infested if other pets in the house bring fleas inside. It is best to avoid the use of insecticides on your pet and there are safer alternatives that can be used once a month on the coat during the flea season. It is also vital to clean up the environment to completely eliminate the flea problem.

HEARTWORM DISEASE – Ferrets, like dogs and cats, are susceptible to infestation by the heartworm. Mosquitoes transmit the larvae of this parasite when they feed on a host. The adult worms live in the heart of the pet and in a ferret, the heart is so small that the presence of even one or two worms could be fatal. If you live in a heartworm prevalent area of the country, particularly if your pet is living outdoors or you have mosquitoes regularly invading your home, you should have your ferret checked annually for this disease and use heartworm preventive medication. There are a number of alternatives for heartworm medication, which you can discuss with your veterinarian.

FOREIGN BODIES IN THE STOMACH OR INTESTINE – Ferrets, particularly under a year of age, love to eat foam and latex rubber, which can become lodged in the intestine or stomach. In addition, ferrets over one year of age can develop large masses of hair in the stomach, which also can cause an obstruction. All of these situations are dangerous and usually require surgery to remove the foreign material. Signs of a foreign body obstruction includes lethargy, extreme dehydration, vomiting (but they often don’t), lack of stools, painful abdomen, seizures and death. The best preventative for this problem is to adequately ferret-proof the environment as described previously.

EPIZOOTIC CATARRHAL ENTERITIS (ECE) – This is the name given to “green slime disease” that has affected ferrets, particularly in shelters, since 1993. The current view is that this is a disease caused by a coronavirus. Fortunately, most ferrets recover uneventfully from ECE, however some, particularly older ferrets or those with other disease, can be severely affected. ECE spreads rapidly and ferrets exposed will exhibit signs of disease within 48 to 72 hours. ECE can result in both inflammation of the GI tract as well as inflammation of the liver. The signs of illness initially can range from vomiting and a soft, green, mucous-coated stool to bloody diarrhea. Recovered ferrets and some unaffected ferrets may be carriers. Young ferrets usually recover from ECE rapidly, but older ferrets may lose significant body condition and continue wasting once the diarrhea is gone. Treatment depends on the severity of the illness and can include intestinal coating agents or antacids, antidiarrheal drugs, antibiotics, injectable fluids and dietary changes.