By Hillary Frank, D.V.M., Dipl. A.B.V.P. (Avian)

    As a ferret owner, you are responsible for your pet’s health and well-being. By following the simple guidelines outlined below, your ferret should bring you many years of enjoyment.

    A healthy ferret should be alert, inquisitive, full of energy, and bright eyed. All ferrets are carnivores and have a high metabolic rate. They should be fed one of the many balanced commercial ferret foods that contains at least 25 percent protein. Always have fresh water available. Ferrets will often be willing to eat a variety of human table food, but these can sometimes upset the intestinal tract and are not recommended.

    Many ferrets have already been spayed or neutered and descented before reaching the pet store. Some odor will remain even after descenting, and bathing regularly with a non-medicated shampoo for ferrets or kittens will help reduce this normal odor.

 

Unspayed female ferrets will not go out of heat unless they are bred or given a hormone injection by your veterinarian. If they stay in heat for extensive periods, they can develop life-threatening anemia (low blood count). Therefore, if you do not plan to breed your female ferret, she should be spayed.

    Your ferret is susceptible to potentially fatal illnesses and should be immunized against them. Ferrets may be protected against Canine Distemper by vaccinating at 8-10 weeks of age and again at 14-16 weeks of age. Signs of illness with distemper include ocular discharge, diarrhea, nasal discharge, and respiratory infection, with eventual seizures and death. The initial Rabies vaccine is given at 14-16 weeks of age. Vaccinations for Canine Distemper and Rabies should be boostered annually.

    Along with vaccinations, a yearly stool (feces) exam should be checked for internal parasites. Ear mites or fleas are also common, but usually easy to treat with the right medications. Blood testing may be helpful to monitor organ functions, especially in ferrets older than 3 years of age.

    Ferrets are curious animals and will get into anything and everything. Ferrets love to hide in small spaces, so you should block off tiny spaces they can squeeze into. Ferrets are especially fond of eating rubber and foam items, causing an intestinal blockage. Common signs of this are lack of appetite, grinding the teeth, and lethargy. It is best to keep them confined to a large cage when not strictly supervised by an adult.

    By following these simple guidelines, your ferret, with proper health care and supervision, will be around for a long time.

Hillary Frank, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (Avian) is the owner of North Central Animal Hospital, P.C., 20 W. Dunlap Ave. She can be reached at 602-395-9773. The information in “Pet Primer” is provided as general information only. For specific advice on your pet’s health, consult your veterinarian.