Diseases of ferrets: symptoms and what to do at home, normal temperature

Decorative ferrets are unpretentious pets, with proper care they rarely get sick. Signs of a he althy animal are wet and cold nose, smooth and shiny coat, lively look, active behavior, good appetite. The list of diseases in ferrets is wide, and many pathologies are fatal, so the owner, who has found symptoms in a pet, should not be delayed in contacting a veterinary clinic.

Common ferret diseases and treatments

The body of ferrets is susceptible to many infectious and non-infectious diseases.The first group includes pathologies caused by viral and bacterial pathogens. Infections spread rapidly, affecting other pets and humans. The second group of diseases is not dangerous for humans, but many pathologies are fatal, so you need to immediately take your pet to the veterinarian to prescribe treatment.

Rabies

Infectious disease develops rapidly, dangerous to humans. Incubation lasts 10-20 days. Symptoms of rabies in ferrets are pronounced:

• lethargy, problems with motor activity;
• temperature increase by 2-3 °C;
• excessive salivation;
• vomiting, diarrhea in some cases;
• gradual change in behavior, increased aggression, desire to pounce, bite;
• appearance of fear of water, refusal to drink;
• the desire to gnaw and swallow small objects;
• paralysis of swallowing muscles, limbs;
• end of convulsions followed by death.

The only protection against infection is ferret vaccination, which must be done annually.

At the first symptoms of illness, the pet must be isolated, taken to a veterinary clinic for a blood test. If rabies is detected, the animal will have to be euthanized. An owner who has come into contact with an infected pet will need to be vaccinated.

Aleutian disease

Also called plasmacytosis, caused by parvovirus. Death occurs from severe exhaustion, and in the acute form of the disease it is sudden. In the chronic form are noted:

• raising the temperature to 40-42 °C;
• depression;
• anemia;
• ulceration of the oral mucosa with bleeding.

Treat ferrets at home with antibiotics, additionally give vitamins, probiotics, inject glucose solution, transfer to a therapeutic diet.

Flu in ferrets

Animals are infected with the flu virus from a person or another animal. Symptoms are typical:

• temperature increase;
• cough;
• profuse nasal discharge;
• lacrimation;
• in some cases violation of defecation;
• poor appetite;
• drowsiness, sedentary state.

The body of ferrets usually copes with the infection itself, the disease lasts up to 2 weeks.Young animals carry the virus harder, they often require medical assistance. Medicines and dosage are prescribed by a veterinarian, but even timely therapy often does not save a young pet from death. For the treatment of ferrets from any infectious disease, it is categorically impossible to use the antibiotic Gentomycin. It leads to kidney failure and deafness.

Infectious diseases: tracheitis, bronchitis, adenovirus

All of the listed diseases are caused by a viral infection, with all of them the body temperature rises. With tracheitis and bronchitis, there is an intense cough with vomiting, heavy breathing. Adenovirus is accompanied by nasal discharge, chest wheezing, sore throat, diarrhea.

They treat ferrets with antiviral drugs, bring down the temperature (the norm for animals is 37-39.5 ° C). Drinks at room temperature should always be available.

Inflammation of the paraanal glands

In animals, the glands are cleared during defecation and during active body movements. But with frequent constipation and diarrhea, they become clogged, because of which they become inflamed, ulcerated. Symptoms of disease in ferrets:

• anal itching;
• anal swelling;
• temperature increase;
• purulent discharge.

At the initial symptoms of the disease, the veterinarian cleans the glands manually. He prescribes injections of an anti-inflammatory agent, and if necessary, antibiotics. In an advanced case, the paraanal glands have to be surgically removed.

Salmonellosis

Animals under 2 months of age are most susceptible to infectious disease. Recovered pets become carriers of salmonella. In an acute course, more than 50% of ferrets die in 2 weeks. Prior to this, the following symptoms are observed:

• oppressed, inhibited state;
• raising the temperature to 40-42 °C;
• poor appetite;
• diarrhea;
• lacrimation.

Atypical salmonellosis occurs in adult ferrets, they lose their appetite, the body is depleted. In a chronic course, accompanied by weakness, anemia, diarrhea, conjunctivitis, and hair fall, the animals die in a month. Ferrets are treated with antibiotics, probiotics, antiseptic eye drops.

Leptospirosis

With infectious jaundice, ferrets lose their appetite, the mucous membranes become yellow, and the lymph nodes swell. In an acute course, the temperature reaches 41 ° C, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea are noted.

Sick pet is hospitalized, he is given medicine through droppers.

Rickets

Disturbance of skeletal development is associated with a deficiency of calciferol (vitamin D) in the body. Symptoms of disease in ferrets:

• oppressed look;
• delay in physical development;
• diarrhea, bloating;
• deformed limbs, twisted spinal column.

For treatment, the diet includes small portions of cottage cheese, vitamin and mineral supplements and fish oil (3-4 drops per day). On warm days, the pet is walked outdoors.

Plague

The deadly virus in the body of ferrets replicates in the lungs and digestive tract. There is no therapy, death is inevitable, so the animal is euthanized so that it does not suffer. The plague is spread by birds, rodents, and even some types of insects.Therefore, the pet must be protected from contact with wild animals.

Incubation lasts 1-3 weeks. Symptoms of disease in ferrets:

• temperature increase;
• conjunctivitis with greenish yellow pus;
• loss of appetite;
• redness of the skin of the lower part of the muzzle, lips, anus with further crusting;
• profuse purulent nasal discharge;
• vomit;
• weight loss.

The only protection for pet ferrets is an annual vaccination.

Anemia

The disease occurs in female ferrets that are unable to mate. Excessive synthesis of estrogen leads to continuous estrus. As a result, disturbances in the bone marrow begin, the production of blood cells stops. Gradually, secondary pathologies are added to anemia, accompanied by fever, loss of appetite, and sometimes baldness.

The pet dies from bleeding due to a lack of red blood cells. To prevent this, the female must be periodically mated with the male, and if breeding is not planned, then sterilized.

Gastroenteritis

Infectious inflammation of the stomach leads to excessive secretion and bleeding, the animal's digestion is disturbed, the body receives insufficient liquid and nutrients. The pet is treated with the introduction of saline and glucose solutions, daily fasting.

Cardiomyopathy

Disruption of the heart muscle has been observed in ferrets from 4 years of age. With hypertrophic changes, the heart expands, fluid accumulates in the lungs, and breathing becomes heavier.With restrictive changes, the ventricular walls thicken, there are no symptoms, the animal dies quickly. For treatment, medicines are used to dilate blood vessels, restore normal blood pressure, remove fluid (diuretics). Dosages are set by the veterinarian.

Urolithiasis

In ferrets, urolithiasis occurs due to excessive consumption of vegetable food, urinary tract infections, hereditary predisposition.

Symptoms of urolithiasis in ferrets:

• frequent but difficult urination;
• unnatural color and intense peculiar smell of urine;
• presence of blood blotches and grains of sand in the urine.

When the disease is advanced, grains of sand clog the passage opening of the ureter. The pet becomes depressed, falls into a coma, dies.The veterinarian cleans the urinary tract from grains of sand with an antiseptic agent under anesthesia. Then he prescribes antibiotics and a therapeutic diet containing a minimum of plant food. To restore the water balance and eliminate the symptoms of intoxication, he puts droppers. Orders an ultrasound and urinalysis to check the condition of the animal.

Diarrhea

In ferrets, diarrhea can be a symptom of both infection (plague, Aleutian disease) and digestive tract disorders (gastritis, colitis, peptic ulcer). Diarrhea is accompanied by intestinal damage by tapeworms when the pet eats infected raw fish. To make an accurate diagnosis, you must contact the veterinary clinic a maximum of 10 days from the onset of defecation disorders.

Stomach ulcer

Bacterial infection actively multiplies on the gastric walls with an unbalanced diet, regular stress. With advanced disease, the pet dies due to extensive bleeding. Symptoms of the disease in ferrets appear gradually:

• grinding teeth first;
• then darkening of the faeces due to mixing with blood;
• diarrhea and vomiting.

At the initial stage of the disease, antibiotics and enzymes are used. The pet will have to follow a therapeutic diet for the rest of his life. If there is bleeding, the veterinarian performs an emergency operation.

Cataract

The clouding of the lens leading to blindness occurs either due to a hereditary predisposition or due to a lack of vitamins A and E in the diet. A sign of the disease is the appearance of a pale blue eyesore. The treatment is surgical, but it is not used for ferrets. The animal may well live half-blind, you just need to make sure that complications do not appear - glaucoma, uveitis.Topical application of prednisolone acetate 1% twice daily helps with uveitis.

Pathologies of the endocrine system

Due to disruption of the adrenal glands in ferrets, the synthesis of corticosteroids, hormones that control metabolic reactions, is reduced. Symptoms of Endocrine Disorders in Ferrets:

• oppressed, apathetic state;
• loss of appetite;
• Inadequate, fearful reaction to external stimuli.

Medicines are prescribed only by a veterinarian.

Stroke

When blood clots clog the vessels of the brain, the animal has convulsive seizures, loss of consciousness or orientation in space is possible. A common symptom is paralysis of one side of the muzzle or torso. The animal can move in circles, tilt its head unnaturally. The veterinarian prescribes anti-inflammatory steroids for paralysis.To recover, the animal needs good care, warmth, and plenty of fluids.

Tumors in ferrets

Tumours are often found in older ferrets. Only a veterinarian can detect the disease, which is why preventive examinations are so important.

Lymphoma

Oncological disease develops slowly, accompanied by lethargy, loss of appetite, weight loss, swollen lymph nodes. In young ferrets, lymphoma develops quickly, is more difficult to cure, in most cases ends in death, accompanied by severe symptoms - coughing, heavy breathing, vomiting, diarrhea. Corticosteroids and chemotherapy are used for treatment.

Tumors of the adrenal glands

There are malignant and benign, associated with excessive hormonal synthesis. Symptoms:

• dystrophic body changes;
• bone protrusion;
• partial baldness;
• difficulty emptying the bladder in males.

Surgical removal of adrenal tumors from ferrets.

Insulinoma

Disease in ferrets is linked to low blood sugar. The pet is weakening, does not move its hind limbs, holds its gaze at one point. He is salivating profusely, chewing function is disturbed. Before dying, the animal falls into a coma.

Prednisolone is used for treatment, the pet is put on a therapeutic diet. Sometimes surgery is needed.

Parasite

Fleas and ear mites are the most commonly attacked by ferrets. With their vital activity, parasites cause unbearable itching. Due to constant scratching, wounds appear on the skin, into which a bacterial infection can penetrate.When mites multiply, dark, foul-smelling secretions flow profusely from the ears.

Fleas, which breed actively during the warmer months, can carry helminths, and also provoke an allergic reaction in the animal, accompanied by baldness.

The first thing to do is to contact the veterinarian so that he takes a scraping, checks for the presence of a tick. Pet stores sell a wide range of medicines for fleas and ticks, it is most convenient to use drops for the ears and withers.

Prevention measures

To reduce the likelihood of developing diseases, it is necessary to provide the pet with optimal living conditions. Prevention includes:

• maintaining cleanliness in the cage, regular disinfection of the premises, processing of inventory, utensils;
• regular bathing of the animal with zooshampoo;
• providing a balanced diet, including vitamin and mineral supplements in the diet to strengthen immunity, maintain the he alth of the skeleton and internal organs;
• annual vaccination.

At the first symptoms, you need to take your pet to the veterinarian, and not treat it yourself. With inept manipulations and the wrong medicines, the owner will only harm the pet, bring death closer.

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