Ferrets are fun and energetic pets that will surely provide delight to any household. They could be tiring because of their enthusiasm but this doesn’t mean that they are exempted from ferret diseases.
It is highly recommended for ferrets to undergo neutering or spaying surgeries before they reach puberty or at about six to eight months old. These help in reducing unpleasant odor and unwanted babies while eliminating chances for female ferrets to die of aplastic anemia, caused by being unable to mate with the opposite sex while going into extended heat.
Ferret Health Problems
Ferrets also suffer from cancer most commonly in the pancreas, the adrenal glands, and the lymphatic system. Others claimed that neutering the animals way before they reach sexual maturity could cause cancers.
A genetic defect called the Waardenburg syndrome could also be brought about by genetic defects. Most ferret diseases lead to extreme weight loss. This is a big problem because ferrets are very active. If your ferret starts losing weight or shows symptoms of a digestive problem, feed him “duck soup,” which is a mixture of whole chicken innards, high-grade kitten food, fat drippings, Ferretone, Nutrical, and other ingredients, depending on the variety. This is rich in fat and protein to balance your ferret’s weight gain and weight loss properly.
Ferrets could also suffer from dehydration. If this is so, give them Pedialyte.
Ferret Adrenal Disease
Symptoms often include hair loss, aggression, urinating or defecating difficulties, or an enlarged vulva for females. This could come in the form of cancer of hyperplasia due to a growth of the adrenaline glands. The disease is usually detected during fall or springtime. The disease could be treated but must be acted upon quickly by the veterinarian.
Ferret Insulinoma
Insulinoma is the cancer of the pancreas. Its cause is also unknown. Essentially, it is the overproduction of insulin that causes a drop in blood sugar. Symptoms include drooling, lethargy, seizures, and sudden deaths. Ferrets suffering from insulinoma might also utter high-pitched screams or give blank stares into space.
Ferret Lymphoma
Lymphoma or lymphosarcoma is the most common ferret disease. The latter comes in two forms, which affect young and adult ferrets. Basically, the disease results in the lymph nodes in either the abdominal cavity, limbs, liver or spleen. It could be treated with radiation or chemotherapy.
Ferret Viral Diseases
Ferrets can also get infected by viruses, including the ECE (epizootic catarrhal enteritis) virus, which cause intestinal inflammation. There is also the ADV (Aleutian disease virus), and the CD (canine distemper) viruses.
Most veterinarians would recommend having your ferret checked up annually. These furry creatures have extremely high metabolism thus, allowing the faster spread of diseases, especially cancer, in their bodies. Ferrets do not easily show symptoms of illnesses so any unusual behavior should not be taken for granted. If your ferret behaves in an unusual way, take it to the immediately to the veterinarian. Remember, the best way to prevent or cure ferret diseases is still through early detection.