As a ferret owner, it is important that you are familiar with what constitutes an emergency and what the appropriate steps are to take to provide the best outcome for you and your ferret. Knowing what you would do ahead of time could relieve you a bit when you may be panicking. Knowing who to call and when to call could also be quite beneficial.
It will be easier to know when you have an emergency if you know what the normal parameters are for a ferret. A normal ferret should be bright, alert, and responsive (unless sleeping, which they do a lot of!). They should be eating, drinking, urinating, and defecating normally, and they should have an activity level that is normal for that particular ferret. Normal ferrets have a temperature of 100-104˚F, a respiratory rate of around 35 breaths per minute, and a heart rate of around 200-250 beats per minute.
It is important to try to prevent problems whenever possible. Ferrets should be:
Obvious emergencies include (but are not limited to):
Hypoglycemia is most commonly caused in ferrets by insulinomas (tumors in the pancreas that produce too much insulin and drive the blood glucose down) and occasionally by a severe systemic bacterial infection. Mild signsinclude: sleeping more, “spacing off”, head bobbing, and progressive lethargy. Supplemental feedings will help stabilize the glucose levels, medications may be needed, and the blood glucose level should be monitored regularly. Moderate signs include: pawing at the mouth and/or tooth grinding (indicating nausea or abdominal discomfort), drooling, falling over, and hind end weakness. Ferrets with these symptoms should have Karo® syrup or concentrated sugar water applied to their gums with a cotton-tipped applicator (don’t get bitten). You should call your veterinarian, and the ferret should be examined as soon as possible. The ferret will likely need medications or surgery, and the glucose should be monitored regularly. Severe signs include: seizures, screaming, coma/unconscious, teeth/jaws clinched, and cold to the touch. Again, Karo® syrup or concentrated sugar water should be applied to the gums, and the ferret should be given gentle heat support if cold to the touch and seems “shocky”. An emergency veterinarian should be contacted immediately if your regular veterinarian’s office is closed. The ferret will need immediate medical attention and will likely need long-term medication or surgery if it survives the immediate episode, as well as regular monitoring of glucose levels.
Black or tarry stools represent the presence of digested blood that has come from an ulcer in the mouth, stomach, or small intestine of a ferret. A few causes for ulcers include inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial overgrowth, sepsis (infection in the blood stream), and Helicobacter (bacteria) infection. Mild to moderate clinical signs associated with an ulcer include dark stools, tooth grinding, and pawing at the mouth. Your regular veterinarian should be called with an update and for advice if a ferret is showing mild to moderate signs. Medications such as antibiotics and gastrointestinal protectants will be necessary. Severe signs include profuse black stools, pale ears, gums, nose, etc. from blood loss, cold to the touch, teeth clinched, and unresponsive. Your veterinarian should be contacted immediately for a ferret exhibiting severe signs, and severely ill ferrets will require immediate veterinary attention with aggressive medical therapy.
This condition is most common in male ferret with adrenal disease whereby the amount of debris and thickened cells shed from the prostate accumulates and causes obstruction of the urethra (means by which urine leaves the bladder and exits the body). Ferrets with bladder stones can also have obstruction of the urethra. Signs of decreased ability to urinate and possible/probable urethral blockage include:
Possible causes include: being stepped on, dropped, or crushed, or getting bitten by a dog or cat for example. Gentle pressure should be applied if the source of bleeding can be found. The ferret should be kept warm and comfortable and movement should be minimized. A veterinarian should be contacted immediately, and the ferret will likely need urgent medical and possibly surgical care.
Upper respiratory infections often result in nasal congestion, nasal discharge, and/or sneezing. Lower respiratory infections usually cause slow, deep breathing (e.g. pneumonia). Ferrets with respiratory infections will likely need diagnostic tests such as x-rays and will require medications. Heart disease is most common in older ferrets, and coughing and exercise intolerance can indicate heart disease (an enlarged heart can press on the trachea to result in coughing). Fluid in the chest from congestive heart failure can make breathing very difficult because the fluid in and around the lungs hinders lung expansion and oxygenation. X-rays can show if there is fluid in the chest and if the heart is enlarged. An ultrasound can show if the heart muscle is too thick or too thin and how well the heart is able to contract. Treatment for fluid in the chest may require partial removal of the fluid by tapping the chest and/or by a medication that promotes water loss from the body. Ferrets in respiratory distress should receive immediate veterinary attention.
Ferrets may vomit secondary to ingestion of a foreign object or toxic substance. Hairballs can also occasionally cause an obstruction, which can cause heaving or vomiting and not wanting to eat. Regurgitation is where undigested food comes back up after sitting in the esophagus, and it often occurs shortly after eating. This condition is often caused by a serious disease known as megaesophagus. Treatment of vomiting or regurgitation can vary, depending on the cause. Veterinary care will likely be necessary, and your veterinarian should be contacted as soon as a problem is suspected.
Allergic reactions most often occur secondary to being given a vaccination, and signs are usually observed within thirty minutes of the vaccine being given. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea (may be bloody), lethargy, shock, panting, etc. This is a true emergency, and injectable medications will be necessary to relieve the symptoms. It is recommended that ferrets be monitored carefully for at least thirty minutes after receiving a vaccine. Oral diphenhydramine (Benadryl®) can be given before the ferret is vaccinated to help prevent a vaccine reaction.
A ferret that is moderately to severely dehydrated will need supplemental fluids. Dehydration can be assessed in a number of ways:
Have a list of phone numbers of ferret knowledgeable veterinarians and emergency clinics (willing to treat ferrets) easily accessible at all times (on the fridge, in your wallet, etc.). The following supplies should be near by:
Make an appointment with your veterinarian:
Ferrets
(Before December 23, 2018)
11876 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway
Beaverton, OR
97005
Tel: (503) 646-6101
Email Dr. Ramsell
(Starting January 5th, 2019, our new location)
2425 SW Cedar Hills Blvd
Beaverton, OR 97005
Tel: (503) 643-2137
Email Dr. Ramsell
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