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. (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 CBC and platelet count prior to surgery.

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