Extreme Weezils : Ferret Health, Illness, and Medical Information

Cold weather creates problems of it's own, as does warm weather, for our ferret friends. Some of these dangers :

baseboard heaters

Faster than you can say, "My ferret CAN'T do that!" your ferret will have the baseboard heater protector bent away or have stuffed something eventually proving to be flammable up inside the heating works. They can fall asleep too near a heater, burn their little ferret toes or weezily nose, or suffer other similar or even more tragic maladies

ventilation ducts

You know those vent covers that just sit over floor heating ducts? We do - we found out they exist when we were preparing our newly purchased home for The Arrival of the Ferrets ... One vent cover in particular was deceptively heavy looking. When we lifted it up, using a finger or two, there was a straight drop down into the unknown realm of the heating duct system, snaking underneath the floors and throughout the house. Now THAT was a distaster waiting to happen.

We have witnessed all six ferrets work obsessively on getting access to whatever they desire at the moment. That vent was as inviting as a bowlful of raisins! Don't forget the wall vents, which also are deceptively easy to pull away from the wall. The LAST thing we need to worry about moving into our first house is whether our fuzzies are prowling the heating ducts ... Keep your ferrets OUT of the heating ducts, please!

If your ferret DOES happen to burn their ferrety selves, try to put the burn area in COOL, not cold, water and get to the vet as soon as possible. Complications from burns range from dehydration to shock, and the poor ferret will need pain medication which should ONLY be administered by a vet when at all possible....

heated air causes dry air in the house

Don't allow your ferret to become dehydrated due to dry, heated air. Please be sure to provide plenty of cool, clean water, both in water bottles AND free standing.

Our ferrets seem to prefer access to BOTH kinds of water containers, and they all drink out of both throughout the day. Of course, they usually prefer OUR water that we may be drinking ... out of OUR glass, preferably involving said ferret sticking their entire face and head in the glass of water, sometimes followed by a front paw or two...

Dry paw pads or noses can be treated with vaseline, vegetable oil, or aloe - a LIGHT coating works best. If you can put it on the affected areas while the ferret is sleeping, it will have time to work without being rubbed or licked off.

Ferrets must be able to keep warm and cozy in cooler weather

It is very important to provide a warm, cozy enviroment for you and your fuzzies alike. Just because ferrets have a thicker fur coat in the winter months does not mean that they are comfortable in freezing temperatures! Ferrets thrive in temperatures hovering between fifty-five and sixty-five degrees fahrenheit, a little cooler than room temperature for humans.

Of course, they also enjoy a nice blanket to snuggle up in. All of the Extreme Weezils take great pleasure in rolling themselves up in amply provided towels, fleece throws, or afghans [NOT the kind we are bombing, either.] A few snuggle sacks or blankets and a cool room is sufficient for your beloved ferret....

Cooler weather brings more colds and flu



Ferret Health and Light Cycles : A Connection? During these weeks of Winter Darkness, when the days are at their shortest and the darkness rules the land, a question has been rasied on the Ferret Mailing List [FML} about the connection, if any, between ferret health and light exposure cycles. The most common health problem facing ferrets after the age of two years is adrenal related, a hormonal imbalance that may be preventable, slowed, or even treated by strict control of ferret light exposure. The optimal lighting enviroment for ferrets is said to be via natural spectrum bulbs on a timer, to be turned on at sunrise and off at sunset according to the local times. At night, if light is needed, red light should be used to simulate darkness and nighttime. [ the preceeding information is based on the Miami Ferret Organization Web Site Light Page ... please visit this page for more detailed information ] Another site to check out explains the results of a study done using several groups of ferrets in several different lighting enviroments. WARNING : This site reads like a typical animal study, in other words it ain't nice to read, so all you sensitive types, like myself, beware, or just skip it and read some more fuzzy stories or watch some ferret movies ....
Winter Weezil Tips Cold weather creates problems of it's own, as does warm weather, for our ferret friends. Some of these dangers : baseboard heaters Faster than you can say, "My ferret CAN'T do that!" your ferret will have the baseboard heater protector bent away or have stuffed something eventually proving to be flammable up inside the heating works. They can fall asleep too near a heater, burn their little ferret toes or weezily nose, or suffer other similar or even more tragic maladies ventilation ducts You know those vent covers that just sit over floor heating ducts? We do - we found out they exist when we were preparing our newly purchased home for The Arrival of the Ferrets ... One vent cover in particular was deceptively heavy looking. When we lifted it up, using a finger or two, there was a straight drop down into the unknown realm of the heating duct system, snaking underneath the floors and throughout the house. Now THAT was a distaster waiting to happen. We have witnessed all six ferrets work obsessively on getting access to whatever they desire at the moment. That vent was as inviting as a bowlful of raisins! Don't forget the wall vents, which also are deceptively easy to pull away from the wall. The LAST thing we need to worry about moving into our first house is whether our fuzzies are prowling the heating ducts ... Keep your ferrets OUT of the heating ducts, please! If your ferret DOES happen to burn their ferrety selves, try to put the burn area in COOL, not cold, water and get to the vet as soon as possible. Complications from burns range from dehydration to shock, and the poor ferret will need pain medication which should ONLY be administered by a vet when at all possible.... heated air causes dry air in the house Don't allow your ferret to become dehydrated due to dry, heated air. Please be sure to provide plenty of cool, clean water, both in water bottles AND free standing. Our ferrets seem to prefer access to BOTH kinds of water containers, and they all drink out of both throughout the day. Of course, they usually prefer OUR water that we may be drinking ... out of OUR glass, preferably involving said ferret sticking their entire face and head in the glass of water, sometimes followed by a front paw or two... Dry paw pads or noses can be treated with vaseline, vegetable oil, or aloe - a LIGHT coating works best. If you can put it on the affected areas while the ferret is sleeping, it will have time to work without being rubbed or licked off. Ferrets must be able to keep warm and cozy in cooler weather It is very important to provide a warm, cozy enviroment for you and your fuzzies alike. Just because ferrets have a thicker fur coat in the winter months does not mean that they are comfortable in freezing temperatures! Ferrets thrive in temperatures hovering between fifty-five and sixty-five degrees fahrenheit, a little cooler than room temperature for humans. Of course, they also enjoy a nice blanket to snuggle up in. All of the Extreme Weezils take great pleasure in rolling themselves up in amply provided towels, fleece throws, or afghans [NOT the kind we are bombing, either.] A few snuggle sacks or blankets and a cool room is sufficient for your beloved ferret.... Cooler weather brings more colds and flu [ back to Ferret Disease States ]
YOU SHOULD CALL THE FERRET VET IF SYMPTOMS INDICATE ....
labored, difficult breathing symptoms of broken bones, reluctance to put any pressure on a particular limb eye injuries of any kind loss of consciousness, loss of balance loss of color in gums, nose [indicative of internal bleeding, anemia] spine, head injuries, cranial bleeding of any kind pawing at mouth, drooling persistent hair loss bloody stool
Ferret Disease States
Aleutian Disease (ADV) This ferret wasting disease first sprouted up in Aleutian blue mink in the 1940's, making the appearence in ferrets in the 1960's. Anorexia, weight loss, and lethargy are just some of the symptoms of this viral infection. More immediately observable symptoms include black, tarry stools, which is indicative of melena, ataxia, paralysis, tremor, and convulsions. Scary stuff!
Adrenal - Associated Endocrinopathy (AAE, Adrenal Disease) Adrenal Disease is caused by a growing lesion in or around the adrenal cortex. As in humans, the ferret adrenal glands are responsible for hormone secretion. An excess of estrogen causes hair loss, while an overabundance of many other hormones can cause aggression and irritability. A bald pissed off ferret is NOT something I would like to confront
Chordomas A neoplasm usually found at the tip of the tail, It is potentially malignant, but rarely if at the tail tip. If a chordoma is around the neck (cervical), it could cause restricted movement and neurological damage. Unfortunately, if the chordoma IS cervical, there are limited treatments available....
Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis (ECE, "Green Slime Disease") Those familiar with medical terminology can translate as follows: epizootic = rapidly spreading throughout a facility of all vulnerable animals; catarrhal = containing mucus; enteritis = inflammation of the intestine. This coronavirus is extremely contagious and can live outside the host for an indeterminate amount of time. Although the disease itself is rarely fatal, the symptomatic diarrhea can cause extreme dehydration, sometimes to the point of mandating IV fluids. Look for excessive, mucusy or green stools from your ferret.
Gastric Ulcers Ferrets can get ulcers almost just like the kind people get. They can be caused by stress, both emotional and physical. Also ferrets can get ulcers from a bacteria similar to human H.pylori, H. mustelae. The treatment is similar to human H. pylori treatment: antibiotics and Pepto Bismol plus a bland diet. [ back to Ferret Disease States ]
Dirofilariasis (Heartworms) Although this is rare, the number of cases are increasing, especially in the southern states (particularly FL.)
Mast Cell Tumors Although the name sounds frightening, these growths are benign. However, because mast cells release histamine, these tumors cause intense itching (not that ferrets need another reason to itch!) They look like scabs, but they do not go away like scabs do. Surgical removal is the only available treatment.
Lymphosarcoma This is the most common ferret malignancy and, unfortunately, is not curable. However, chemotherapy can shrink the growth, although the risk / benefit for administering this treatment needs to be considered. In ferrets under 2 years of age, this is rapidly progressive while in older ferrets (5 to 7 years) it becomes a more chronic condition....
Canine Distemper (CD) This virus is 100% preventable and 100% failure. This leaves little room for argument against vaccination of your ferret! [ back to Ferret Disease States ]
For more information, please refer to these and other ferret medical information links: Ferret Central Medical FAQ Wolfy's ADV Page