The Ferret Veterinary Handbook
1. Classification
A. Carnivore-Mustelid-related to weasel's, skunks, otters, minks, etc.
B. Species-Mustela putorious furo-domestic Ferret-comes in a variety of
colors and color patterns. Most common colors are Sable (was dark
brown with cream to white under code), chocolate (his a lighter,
warmer version of the Sable), Albino, and silver.
2. History
A. Documented introduction into the U.S. in the late 1800s for the for
industry and for rodent control one farms. Possible early arrival of
individual levels kept as family pets or private stock. Current
estimate of ferrets in the U.S. is between 6 and 8 million.
B. Originally used in Europe and Asia for hunting wraps and rabbits.
C. Ferrets are domesticated animals and have been raised in captivity
for thousands of years. Records show that ancient Egyptians used
them performing vermin control.
D. Ferrets are legal in some states and cities. A few states require
permit to own ferret.
3. Characteristics
A. Lifespan - is five - eight years average. ('s 14 and 1/2 years is
record). Geriatric problems start about three years of age.
B. Weight - males one - 2.5 kg; females 0.5 - 1 kg. There's a normal
playing - 40 percent weight fluctuation due to subcutaneous fat
accumulation in the fall and laws of same in the spring. This is
generally more noticeable in intact animals. Ferrets usually reach
adult weight between six to eight months.
C. Hair molt is heaviest in spring and less so in the fall. Color length
and texture of code may change significantly with each mold. (Example:
pure colored ferrets may become black dyed whites by four to five
years of age. The mask on Sable's and chocolates may be lost each
winner in return in the fall.)
D. Males have a J. shaped penis which is difficult to catheterize.
E. Heat loss by panting, few and poorly developed sweat glands, very heat
intolerant (heat stress may start at 80 degrees).
F. Dental formula 3-1-3-1 deciduous teeth here errupt at 14 days and
3-1-3-2
permanent canines at 47-52 days of age.
G. No cecum present, differentiation of small and large intestines.
H. 14 thoracic vertebrae, and 6 lumbar vertebrae, 14 pairs of ribs.
I. Paired anal glands. These are not necessary to remove as a routine
procedure. We recommend to surgery only for those ferrets with chronic
anal gland impactions, anal gland disease, and for those few ferrets
that express the anal glands frequently. Neutering will alleviate
the strong body odor which originates in the skin oils in intact
animals.
4. Diet
A. Carnivorous, ferrets don't digest fiber well, so keep fruit and
vegetable matter to a minimum.
B. Very high protein requirement, 30 percent minimum. Due to short GI
transit time, amino acids have to be very high quality and highly
adjustable.
C. High-quality kitten/Ferret food is recommended. (A high-quality cat
food should be used for ferrets over three years of age). Cooked
meat can also be added.
D. Fatty acid supplements, should be used in moderation. Are it
especially helpful for ferrets with dry coats or in cold or dry
climates.
E. Hair ball laxative (feline type), is extremely helpful in the
prevention of hair balls, which are very common in the Ferret.
Use 1/4 teaspoon every other day. During daily shedding seasons.
F. Food should be available to all times. Ferrets need to snack
throughout the day.
G. Appetite may drop off during the spring breeding season in intact
animals (especially males.)
H. Anorexia or finicky animals, can be given strained meat human baby
food by syringe. NutriCal or similar products are also well liked.
Feline nutritional supplements may also be used.
5. Reproduction
A. Males are Hobs, females are Jills and the young are Kitts or sometimes
pups (European). Neutered males are sometimes referred to as Gibbs
and spayed females as Sprites.
B. Puberty is reached by four to nine months, usually the spring after
birth.
C. Fertility lasts three to four years.
D. Females are seasonally polyestrus from March to August. This
stimulated by the increase of the photo-period. The vulva enlarges
significantly, there is a clear view choroid discharge, but no blood.
E. Reflux ovulator, regresses one to three weeks after breeding. They
can remain in estrus for months, which may lead to a fatal
non-regenerate to anemia (caused by high per estrogenism). Estrus
can be terminated with 100 units of HCG given intramuscularly or
subcutaneously after the animal has been in estrus for the least ten
days. Repeat either product after two weeks if vulvar swelling is
not reduced. Will come back into heat in one to four modes. Due to
a CB see if the animal has been in estrus for four weeks or longer.
Vasectomized males have also been used to successfully take females
out of estrus, but this method is not 100 percent reliable.
F. Due to use progesterone products to take ferrets out of estrus, it
can lead to pyometra.
G. Males are also seasonally federal, dependant on the photo-period.
Testicles to be appreciably smaller in the winter.
6. Clinical pathology values
A. Urine pH 6.527 to 5 with mild to moderate proteinuria discounting
and normal year and may also give a false Ketone value.
B. Feces are soft tubular and formed.
C. His probation and 33 to 35 times per minute.
D. Rectal temperature 100 to 103 degrees (101.9 average).
E. Blood volume 60 to 80 ml per kg
F. Heart rate 216 to 250 (225 average).
G. PCV 42 to 61 percent (49 average).
H. RBC 6.8 to 12.2 X 10 6/mm3.
I. Hemoglobin 16.50 G./DL.
J. WBC 5.9 X 103/mm3.
K. Platelets (10 3/mm3) - 297 - 910.
L. Total protein (G./DL) - 5.1 - 7.4 (6.0 average).
M. Albumen - 3.5 G./DL.
N. Glucose (fasting) 94 to 125
(non- fasting up to 207).
O. BUN - 10 - 45 mg/DL (21 average).
P. Alkaline Phosphotase 9 to 84 IU/L
(38 average).
Q. SGOT; SAST 28 to 120 IU/L (95 average).
R. Total Bilirubin 1.0 mg/DL.
S. Creatinine 0.4 to 0.9 mg/DL.
T. See him 137 to 162 mmol/L (148 average).
U. Potassium 4.5 to 7.7 (5.5 average).
V. Chloride 106 to 125 mmol/L (116 average).
W. Calcium 8.0 to 11.8 mg/L (9.5 average).
X. Phosphorus 4.0 to 9.1 mg/DL (5.9 average).
Y. Insulin 0 to 20 (if fasting to glucose is below 65 even in cases of
insulioma the insulin level may appear normal).
7. Restraint and anesthesia
A. Manual Restraint
1. Gentle restraint is generally all that is necessary. Do not
use gloves.
2. Try scruffing the pet for cleaning, injections, nail trims and
abdominal palpitations. Grasp the skin right behind the ears
and over the back of the neck and suspends the Ferret over a
table.
B. Chemical Restraint.
1. Isofurane is highly recommended. The Ferret can be masked
down and maintained on a mask or intubated.
2. Ketamine HCL plus acepromazine in a 10 to 1 ratio can be used
at 35 to 40 mg per kilo kg of ketamine for surgical anesthesia
and at 10 mg per kg for light sedation.
3. Ketamine HCL and diazepam may also be used its 25 mg per kg of
ketamine and 2 mg per kg of diazepam.
4. Xylazine should be used with caution, deaths in healthy
animals have been reported.
8. Blood collection and injection techniques
A. Tail artery is is easiest without sedation. You can use a treat as a
distraction. Use a 25 gauge needle and TB syringe and insert the
needle at about a 45 degree angle into the ventral tail about 1 to 2
in. from the tail base. Move needle up-and-down gentle suction until
you hit the artery and thought up sample.
B. The jugular vein, cephalic and recurrent tarsal can also be used with
or without sedation, non-anesthetized animal can be restrained for a
cephalic or jugular veinipuncture a similar manner as a cat. Use a
25 gauge needle for all. (Can use 22 gauge for jugular)
C. Toe nail should not be used except in cases were blood can not be
obtained elsewhere; this is very painful and doesn't yield much.
D. Anterior vena cava may also be used, the animal must be very well
restrained.
E. Cardiac puncture can be used when a large central blood is required as
in the case of a donor animal for blood transfusion. 20 cc of lead
may be removed in this matter from a male Ferret weighing 1 kg without
ill effects. 12 cc may be removed from a female weighing.75 kg.
F. Injections can be given subacutaneous over the neck area while
scruffing the animal, or intramuscularly in the thigh or lumbar area.
G. IV catheters can be placed in the cephalic or jugular veins. Knicking
the skin with a blade may be necessary to get the catheter through
without damaging it.
9. Vaccinations
A. Canine Distemper
1. It is absolutely necessary to vaccinate for this disease. It
is essentially 100 percent fatal in the Ferret.
2. Use highly attenuated MLV chick embryo vaccine.Fromm-D by
Solvay has proven to be quite safe and effective. Fervac D by
united vaccines is also available and is the only the stem
per vaccine currently approved by the USDA for use in
ferrets.
3. It is not necessary to use vaccines with parvo virus,
leptosoirosis, parainfluenza, hepatitis, corona virus.
4. First vaccination in kits is at six weeks, then repeated at
eight weeks, 11 weeks, and 14 weeks.
5. Immunity may last up to three years, but we recommend to
re-vaccinate annually, because breaks in vaccine have been
seen at 18 months.
6. Pregnant females may be vaccinated.
B. Feline panleukopenia -- it is not necessary to vaccinate for
this disease.
C. Rabies
1. Currently available vaccine is Pittman Moore's Imrab 3.
2. First dose given three months and then annually.
3. Never use live vaccine as it may induce clinical rabies.
4. Check local regulations, as some state or localities may not
recognize or approve of the vaccine.
D. Botulism C Toxoid - only for commercially raised animals, especially if
being fed raw meat. Vaccinate at weaning, then annually.
E. Feline leukemia - no current data indicates that this vaccine should
be used in ferrets.
10. Surgical proceedures
A. Castration can be performed either by a prescrotal incision as in the
canine or through two scrotal incisions as in cat. It is done at
four to six months of age and greatly decreases the ferrets body
odor.
B. Monorchids are usually subcutaneous but may also be abdominal.
C. OHE is performed in the same manner as in the feline and is done at
four to six months of age. It can be done during estrus with no ill
effects to the Ferret or stress to the surgeon unless the animal has
been in estrus one-month or longer. (See E. below)
D. Non-breeding females should be spayed to prevent the development of
fatal non-regenerative anemia that may occurred during persistent
estrus. If a female has been in estrus for 4 weeks or longer perform
a see CBC and platelet count prior to surgery.
