16 Most Common Health Problems In Ferrets

This post is aimed at discussing some common health problems in ferrets that every ferret’s owner should know.

Ferrets are prone to a number of health problems because of their small size and their delicate digestive system.

Ferrets should be checked on a daily basis for signs of illness such as unusual discharges, or abnormal behavior.

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Health Problems In Ferrets

Ferrets can be prone to many health problems. Some of these include:

Respiratory infections

Stress such as weaning, separation, overcrowding, and poor husbandry can encourage illness.

Symptoms will include sneezing, coughing, fever, nasal discharge and lethargy.

Seek veterinary treatment as your ferret may require a course of antibiotics.

Several human influenza strains can cause influenza in ferrets. Humans can infect ferrets and vice versa, so take precautions if you have a cold or flu.

Nutritional diarrhoea

This can be due to a sudden change in diet. To avoid any sudden change in diet, new diets should be introduced gradually over a minimum of two weeks.

Diarrhea should correct itself within a couple of days. If not, seek veterinary advice.

Infectious diarrhea – This can be associated with parasites, bacteria or viruses and can affect ferrets at any age, although kits are most susceptible.

In all cases it is important to find the cause, as ferrets can fall ill quite quickly, resulting in dehydration, poor condition and in the worst scenario, death. In all cases seek veterinary advice.

Foreign bodies

Due to the inquisitive nature of young ferrets, gastrointestinal obstructions are common.

Occasionally a small, partially obstructing object may pass with the help of some intestinal lubricants, but in most cases surgery is necessary.

In adult ferrets, hairballs can sometimes lead to obstruction especially during the moulting period. Grooming decreases the risk but for severe problems please see a vet.

Canine Distemper

Ferrets are very susceptible to Canine Distemper, which often leads to fatality.

Signs of the virus include discharge around the eyes, nose and chin (eyes may be closed).

Other symptoms are loss of appetite, a rash and lethargy. It is highly infectious and can be picked up from dog urine on the soles of your shoes.

To prevent infection, ask your vet to vaccinate at 9 – 10 weeks.

Ferrets should be vaccinated for distemper.

Oestrogen induced anemia

Jill’s are induced ovulators and may often have prolonged seasons if not mated. High prolonged levels of oestrogen in the body can cause aplastic anemia.

To prevent this happening, if you are not breeding from your jill you should have her neutered, brought out of season by a hormone injection, or present her to a vasectomised hob.

External parasites

Ear mites are common and will be apparent if your ferret shakes his head and scratches his ears often.

It can lead to inflammation of the area and generally be uncomfortable to the animal.

Regularly check your ferret for fleas and flea dirt. If fleas are found you will need to treat with a product recommended for use on ferrets. Don’t forget to treat their cage environment too.

Rabies in ferrets

Rabies is a virus that can be transmitted to humans, and it’s one of the most serious health problems for ferrets.

In fact, it’s so harmful to them that their bodies produce antibodies against this virus in order to fight it off.

If you have a pet ferret or other pets at home with rabies and don’t take steps to protect yourself from exposure—or if your pet has been exposed—you could contract the disease yourself.

Rabies affects all mammals except humans; however, ferrets are especially susceptible because they’re often more active than dogs and cats (which are also susceptible).

If your ferret bites someone who has been vaccinated against rabies, there’s less chance of transmission than if someone were bitten by an unvaccinated animal like a bat or raccoon!

Heart Disease in ferrets

Heart disease is a common problem in ferrets, and it can be difficult to diagnose.

Ferrets are known to have a heart rate that is 50% faster than humans and they also have an enlarged left ventricle (the chamber of the heart where blood pumps) compared with other animals.

It may seem obvious that your ferret has heart disease if you see him or her panting or resting between runs outside.

However, this does not necessarily mean that your pet has any health issues related to his or her cardiovascular system.

There are several risk factors for developing this disease:

Being overweight (more than 20 pounds)

Having glucose intolerance or type 2 diabetes mellitus

Adrenal Disease in ferrets

Adrenal disease is a common health problem in ferrets.

The adrenal glands are located behind the kidneys, and produce hormones that exert control over many bodily functions, including:

The metabolism of carbohydrates (the cells’ ability to break down food) and fats (the cells’ ability to use fat).
Metabolism of proteins (the cells’ ability to build new tissue or repair old tissue).
Regulation of blood pressure, body temperature and blood sugar levels.

The most common cause of adrenal insufficiency is hyperadrenocorticism (also called Cushing’s disease).

Which occurs when too much cortisol—a hormone produced by the adrenal glands—is secreted into your ferret’s bloodstreams due to an underlying illness such as infection or trauma.

Insulinoma in ferrets

Insulinoma is a condition where the ferret’s body produces too much insulin.

This can cause hyperglycemia, which is a very high level of sugar in the blood.

The most common cause of this disease is an injury or trauma to the pancreas, but it can also be caused by other problems such as infection or cancer.

It’s possible for insulinomas to spread from one part of your ferret’s body to another through lymphatic channels called lymphatics (which are like veins).

If your ferret has an insulinoma, and you want to know how long he’ll live with it untreated, then don’t worry—we’ll tell you!

Because diabetes affects more than just dogs and cats these days; there are many more pet owners who have learned about this condition because they have adopted rescue animals who were previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type.

Giardiasis in ferrets

Giardiasis is a protozoan parasite that can be passed from ferret to ferret, as well as humans.

It’s also possible for the same thing to happen between humans and ferrets, but it’s not as common.

Giardia can cause diarrhea in both animals and people; however, it doesn’t usually cause any other symptoms besides this diarrhea (though some pets may experience vomiting).

Cancer in ferrets

Cancer is a disease in which cells reproduce out of control, causing tumors to form.

Keep in mind that cancer can be found in many different types of animals and it’s possible that ferrets may be susceptible to developing cancer.

Cancer is caused by abnormal growth of cells; this means that there are some types of cancers where the cells make more copies than others need, which causes overgrowth within tissues or organs like eyes or lungs (or even mouths!).

In addition, some kinds aren’t actually “tumors” at all—they’re just spongy masses without any blood vessels running through them yet!

These tend not only cause pain but also distort vision (for example causing double vision), impairing your ability to see clearly while you’re working around him/herself because they’ll slip out from under his/her eyelid whenever he/she blinks…

Infectious Pneumonia

Infectious pneumonia is caused by a virus or bacteria. If your ferret has been exposed to the same virus or bacteria, it can cause them to have an infection. The symptoms of infectious pneumonia include:

Coughing and sneezing

Difficulty breathing (breathing at a slower rate than normal)
Fever

Influenza in ferrets

The most common health problems in ferrets are respiratory diseases, digestive problems, and skin infections.

Influenza can be fatal if left untreated. Symptoms include fever, cough, sneezing and runny nose as well as lethargy or weakness (possibly accompanied by anorexia).

Treatment with an antiviral drug such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) may be beneficial but should be started immediately after the animal is diagnosed with influenza so that it has time to take effect before symptoms worsen.

Cheyletiellosis in ferrets

Cheyletiellosis in ferrets is a common and highly contagious disease of ferrets.

The disease is caused by a small mite called Cheyletiella, which can be transmitted to other animals through direct contact with infected animals or fleas.

Campylobacteriosis in ferrets

Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial disease that causes diarrhea in ferrets.

It can be spread through contact with infected feces, but it is most commonly spread by other animals and humans.

The symptoms of campylobacteriosis in ferrets vary widely depending on the severity of the infection and the age of your pet.

In some cases, ferrets may not show any signs at all; however, if you notice any signs of illness (diarrhea or constipation), you should take them to a veterinarian immediately.

The chance that your ferret will get this disease increases if they live in unsanitary conditions such as those found at shelters or boarding facilities where there are many other pets sharing living space with them (hundreds instead of just one).

Read more: 9 Most Common Signs Of A Sick Ferret.