Ferrets: diseases, possible causes, symptoms of the disease, treatment, prevention and advice from veterinarians

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Recently, more and more often, fans of pets give birth to ferrets in houses and apartments. Animals are undemanding in content, mobile, intelligent and cheerful. And yet there are some nuances that you need to know if you are going to make such a friend. Despite strong immunity, there are a number of ferret diseases that attentive owners should be aware of.

Nuances of content

Carnivores need special nutrition to keep them he althy. Ferrets are incredibly energetic and vital, for this reason it is impossible to keep them in a cage for a long time. They need to release their energy somewhere.

Fluffy creatures are strong enough and have good immunity. And yet they, like other pets, can get sick. The he alth of the animal largely depends on the degree of care of the owners. In our article, we want to talk about ferret diseases, symptoms and treatment. Always veryit is important to notice the first signs and provide timely assistance to your pet.

Ferrets need regular veterinary check-ups for early detection or prevention of disease. In addition, only a specialist will help to carry out vaccination and sterilization. In the event that a female ferret lives in your house, but you do not plan to have offspring, the animal must be sterilized. And it is vital to do so. Ferrets have a certain feature that does not allow them to come out of heat on their own. And this threatens the he alth of the female.

Vaccination

Even with the most proper care and the full attention of the owners, it is not always possible to avoid diseases in a ferret. In this case, you should immediately contact the veterinary clinic. Vaccination is a preventative measure for many diseases. It is a very important point in the proper maintenance of the animal. Thanks to injections, it is possible to minimize the risk of problems. There is simply no better way to prevent infectious diseases. In the event that you take your pet outside, it is susceptible to infection. Natural conditions are the source of the spread of infections.

Domestic ferrets are not immune from diseases either. Since we all go outside, we bring dangerous diseases and bacteria into the house with shoes and outerwear. In addition, you should beware of parasites, which can be not only on the body of the pet, but also in his body.

Infectious diseases

To fully understand the symptoms and treatment of ferret diseases underpower only to the veterinarian. Therefore, it is very important to regularly visit the clinic with your pet. Even an experienced owner is not always able to notice the first warning signals.

Rabies is one of the infectious diseases of domestic ferrets. Its virus infects the pet's body and causes severe disturbances in the work of the central nervous system. The pathogen enters the body with saliva. A sick ferret during a bite can also infect its owner. The incubation period of the disease lasts from several weeks to three months. Unfortunately, there is no effective treatment for this disease in ferrets. Vaccinations are recommended to prevent infection. Moreover, they are mandatory even for pets who do not visit the street.

Vaccinations against rabies are very important for an animal. They will not only allow the animal to create immunity, but also protect the owner himself. In the event that your pet has bitten a stranger, trouble is possible. Having a passport with vaccinations will protect both the victim and the owner. Unvaccinated rodents are euthanized for rabies diagnosis.

Plague

A very dangerous disease with a poor outcome - the plague. The source of infection may be recently ill or sick animals. Infection occurs not only through close contact, but also through contact with objects. Even a person can be a virus carrier. The incubation period is from 7 to 21 days. The development of the disease can be sluggish, or it can be rapid, then the pet dies within a day. If you notice at least some symptoms of illness in a ferret (lack of appetite, fever, redness of the skin, purulent discharge from the nose, vomiting, diarrhea), you should immediately contact your veterinarian. It is he who can accurately diagnose the disease. It is worth noting that there is no cure for this disease in ferrets. Therefore, experts recommend euthanizing the animal in order to avoid suffering.

In order for your pet not to get sick, it is necessary to vaccinate it annually. The first injections can be carried out at the age of 2.5-3 months. Animals are vaccinated with imported preparations for dogs: Nobivak, Trivirovak, Hexadog. For ferrets, use 1/3 of the dog dose.

An approximate vaccination schedule is as follows: the first one is against the plague, after 2-3 months the second one is against the plague and rabies, then both vaccinations are carried out annually throughout life.

Aleutian disease

Another viral infection dangerous for ferrets is Aleutian disease. It attacks the immune system. A huge number of antibodies appear in the tissues of the body, causing inflammatory processes. Infection with the virus occurs by contact and airborne droplets. Infected objects can also be a source. A person can also be a carrier of the virus. The incubation period lasts from 6 to 150 days. Symptoms largely depend on which organs are affected. Among the general signs, it is worth highlighting the following: increased thirst, weight loss, anemia, fever, diarrhea, apathy, inactivity, lack of shedding, dull coat. To establishdiagnosis requires testing. Moreover, it is not possible to obtain an accurate result. Unfortunately, there is still no vaccine for this disease. It is not always possible to accurately diagnose the disease and treat ferrets and rodents.

Flu

Speaking of ferret diseases, symptoms and treatment (photos of the animals are presented in the article), it is worth remembering the flu. Do not be surprised, but ferrets are the only domestic creatures that can become infected with such an ailment from a person. The manifestation of the disease is the appearance of coughing, sneezing, diarrhea, runny nose, lacrimation, fever. Sick pets behave apathetically, sleep a lot and do not want to eat. Ferret babies take the flu even harder.

For an accurate diagnosis of the disease, you must contact your veterinarian. Antibiotics and antihistamines are used to treat animals.

Rickets

Among animal diseases, there are those that are not dangerous to humans. These include rickets. The disease is manifested by abnormal growth and the occurrence of bone deformity. This happens as a result of a violation of phosphorus-calcium metabolism. The most common cause of the disease is the malnutrition of your pet. But it can also be congenital if the female was not properly fed during pregnancy and lactation. Symptoms of the disease are poor appetite, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, developmental and growth retardation, bloating, dullness of the coat, loss of elasticity of the skin. The gait of ferrets becomes tense, the hind legs maybend, causing lameness. The spinal column can also be deformed. The disease is accompanied by heart weakness and anemia.

For the treatment of rickets in ferrets, it is necessary to transfer the pet to a balanced professional food. The process should take place under the supervision of a doctor. As an addition, a course of calcium intake can be carried out. Also in the diet include brewer's yeast, top dressing and vitamins. Veterinarians prescribe physical therapy, spinal massage, swimming and exercise. However, the best prevention of illness is to make the right diet for your pet from the first days of its appearance in the house.

Adrenal disease

A common occurrence in ferrets can be adrenal disease. The disease is associated with a violation of the secretion of sex hormones, which causes serious disruptions in the body of pets. Adrenal disease in ferrets can show up at any age. But most often it is diagnosed in individuals older than three years. At present, the causes of the onset of the disease have not been fully studied.

Symptom of the manifestation of the disease can be hair loss (starts from the tail and spreads further through the body), apathy, weight loss. Sometimes castrated males begin to mark the territory, in non-castrated males, a violation of the urination process is possible. The treatment is surgery.

Anemia

Ferrets are prone to anemia. It usually develops in unsterilized female representatives in the absence of mating. itleads to the development of secondary bacterial infections. Signs of the disease are a long estrus, fever, depression, loss of appetite, partial hair loss. Prolonged bleeding causes the death of the animal. As a preventive measure for the development of the disease, it is necessary to sterilize females if you do not plan to mate them.

Parasite

The condition of the coat is the best indicator of a pet's he alth. Parasitic diseases in ferrets can be transmitted from dogs and cats. The main symptom of the appearance of fleas is itching of the skin. Outwardly, this is manifested in the fact that the animal constantly itches. But this is not the only problem of fleas, as they are serious carriers of pathogens and helminths.

Usually parasites are more active in the warm season. To combat fleas, you must use aerosols and shampoos designed specifically for ferrets. In no case should you poison parasites with dog or cat remedies.

Ferrets can be infected with helminths, which do not add he alth to any animal. In order to avoid problems, veterinarians recommend regular anthelmintic prophylaxis. To do this, in special stores and veterinary clinics, you need to purchase drugs for ferrets.

Gastroenteritis

Another ailment that is provoked by malnutrition is gastroenteritis. The disease causes inflammation of the intestines. This situation is possible if the diet contains a lot ofplant substances. The symptoms of the disease include diarrhea, weight loss, the appearance of ulcers on the body.

Cardiomyopathy

Oddly enough, but ferrets are prone to cardiovascular disease. And one of the most common ailments is cardiomyopathy. It is manifested by the appearance of sudden attacks of weakness, dry cough, reduced motor activity, breathing is difficult, and swelling of the abdominal cavity may also be observed.

Such a disease in ferrets can be diagnosed at the age of 5-7 years. The disease is age related. It can also result from a lack of amino acids in the diet. For diagnosis, veterinarians do an ECG and X-ray. There is no such treatment. With the help of medicines and special diets, you can only prolong the life of the pet and alleviate its condition.

Urolithiasis

Urolithiasis is also associated with nutritional errors. It occurs in the case of a high content of ash components in the feed. Infections or hereditary predisposition can also provoke an illness. It was believed that the disease develops only in those individuals that eat dry food. However, the assumption has not received scientific confirmation. The owners of a sick pet should notice difficulty in urinating, traces of blood and general malaise of the animal. Treatment is surgery and medication support.

Stomach ulcer

Cute pets have a genetic predisposition to develop ulcers. splashthe disease is provoked against the background of an improper, unbalanced diet or due to stress. As a result, there is a multiplication of bacteria leading to an ulcer. In the early stages, the disease is very difficult to recognize, because it does not manifest itself. Usually the owner realizes that the animal is ill only after the pet has severe pain, black oily feces, diarrhea, vomiting and loss of appetite.

Cataract

Cataract causes vision loss and blindness in animals. The disease can be acquired as a result of injury or aging, or it can be congenital. A symptom of the disease is clouding of the lens. However, often the owners do not even notice that their pet is already blind, because he is perfectly oriented in a familiar room. Unfortunately, the disease has no cure. But as a preventive measure, it is necessary to prevent males with a defect from breeding. Otherwise, all offspring may have a hereditary disease.

Recommended by professionals

If you want to get a ferret, then you should first study the literature in order to understand what kind of care your pet will need. Experienced experts recommend purchasing M. Lloyd's book "Diseases of Ferrets". In it, the veterinarian in a very accessible form outlined a lot of useful information about the maintenance and treatment of an unusual pet. The book is an excellent guide for any owner. It consists of several parts. The first deals with the biology and maintenance of ferrets, the second deals with the diagnosis and treatment of major diseases. But the third and fourth parts will interestveterinarians and those who work with cute animals. According to people's reviews, the book contains a lot of very useful and reliable information. Such literature is very necessary for those who decide to have a ferret. The book is also in demand by veterinarians, as it contains information on the treatment of ailments, dosages of drugs and surgical interventions.

Instead of afterword

Summing up the conversation, it is worth noting that many he alth problems of your beloved pets can be avoided if proper nutrition is established from the very first day. It is on its quality that the immunity of the animal as a whole depends. But from infectious diseases, it is worth protecting yourself and your pet with vaccinations.