Emergencies |
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SIGNS OF AN EMERGENCY
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Gastrointestinal Illness |
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Major gastrointestinal illness of concern: These diseases can be under the heading of wasting disease. Any ferret showing the symptoms should have a complete work-up. Epizootic catarrhal enteritis: Symptoms: In adult ferret, it is the sudden occurrence of bright green diarrhea. Diarrhea can also be yellow, dark red, or black. The infected ferret will vomit, lose is appetite, become lethargic and dehydrated. Young ferrets are more at risk, middle age and older ferrets are at a lower risk. Diagnosis: See clinical signs and laboratory tests. Similar diseases: Diarrhea from any source. Treatment: Antibiotics and supportive therapy. Prevention: Isolation of infected ferret and cleaning the cage with bleach. Helicobacter mustelae gastritis:
Both affect the stomach. Symptoms: Lethargy, loss of eating, rapidly increasing weight loss, dehydration, anemia, periodic vomiting, teeth grinding, and black scabs. Diagnosis: Surgical biopsy from stomach pylorus is rewarding not by the endoscope. Treatment: Combination of antibiotics and supportive therapy. Proliferative bowel disease: Symptoms: Chronic diarrhea with a dark liquid, bright red blood to thin bright green mucous stools. In some cases, prolapsed rectum is seen. Infected ferrets may be moaning and crying when they try to defecate. Extreme weight loss in a short time (two weeks). Dehydration and upper respiratory infection is a complication. Diagnosis: Clinical symptoms and biopsy of infected tissues. Treatment: Antibiotics and supportive therapy. |
Fungal Diseases |
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Fungal disease is rare in ferrets. The most common fungal disease will be discussed in the following. Ring Worm Symptoms: Circular lesion on the skin covered with a white crust. Diagnosis: Based on isolation and identification of the causative agent. Treatment: Topical or oral medication. Prevention: Humans who are sick should wear gloves when handling a ferret. |
Bacterial Diseases |
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The most important common ones are discussed in detail below. Bordetella Symptoms: Discharge from the nose usually from one side and respiratory distress. Similar Diseases: Snuffles Diagnosis: Culture and sensitivity should be done before dispensing antibiotics. Treatment: Antibiotics Prevention: Ferrets should be vaccinated against kennel cough 2 weeks before boarding. Snuffles Symptoms: Sneezing with or without nasal discharge. Similar diseases: 1) Sinus damage from a viral infection, 2) Fungal disease, 3) Nasal septum deformities, 4) Respiratory syncytial virus. Diagnosis: Culture and sensitivity. Treatment: Depends on culture and sensitivity Pneumonia Symptoms: Weakness, lethargic, difficulty breathing, fever, and dehydration. Diagnosis: Clinical symptoms, x-ray, culture, and sensitivity. Treatment: Medication on the basis of culture and sensitivity and supportive therapy. Mycoplasma Symptoms: Weakness, lethargy, difficulty breathing, fever, and dehydration. Diagnosis: Clinical symptom, x-ray, CBC, and blood chemistry. Treatment: Antibiotics, force-feeding, and supportive therapy. Botulism Symptoms: Neuralgic signs due to the effect of the toxin to the brain. The first sign is usually some paralysis on hind legs then shallow respiration and salivation. Death occurs due to respiratory failure. Diagnosis: Culture has done on vomit or stomach content after death. Treatment: Antibiotics and supportive therapy. |
Parasitic Diseases |
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Similar to dogs and cats, ferrets can be infected with internal or external parasites. The most common ones are discussed below. Internal Parasites Toxoplasmosis: Symptoms: Anemia, eye lesion, inflammation of liver, blindness, CNS sing, respiratory disease, and diarrhea. Diagnosis: Laboratory test on blood. Treatment: Antibiotic and supportive therapy. Prevention: Do not expose the ferret to infected animals. Coccidiosis: Symptoms: Bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis: Laboratory test on fecal. Treatment: Antibiotics and supportive therapy. Cryptosporidiosis: Symptoms: Diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, constipation, and weight loss. Diagnosis: Laboratory test on fecal sample. Treatment: Is not effective. Prevention: Wash the contaminated area with 10% ammonia. Giardiasis: Symptoms: Soft stool, listlessness and weight loss. Diagnosis: Fecal test Treatment: Antibiotics and supportive therapy. Prevention: Clean the environment thoroughly and disinfect with 5% pine tar or 1% house bleach. Helminthes: Round Worms: Prevention: Fecal worm check is recommended annually and treats the infected ferret. If the ferret is positive, dogs and cats in the same environment should be checked and wormed. Children should consult their physician. Heartworms: Symptoms: Vague with anorexia and coughing. Diagnosis: SNAPS test and x-ray. Treatment: In early stage is possible. Prevention: Heartworm preventive medication (at this point there are none that are label approved). Consult with your vet for a possible preventative medicine. External Parasites Fleas: Symptoms: General inflammation from the flea bites, heavy scratching, and anemia. Diagnosis: Visual. Treatment: Treat the symptoms and prevent reinfestation. Prevention: Be careful not to use any product with out consulting your veterinarian. Ear Mange: Symptoms: Head shaking and rubbing. Diagnosis: Take a swab from the ear and examine under microscope. Treatment: Possible Foot Mange: Symptoms: Yellow incrustation covers the foot. Diagnosis: Examination of skin scraping under microscope. Treatment: Clean or destroy all the bedding. Treatment is hard but possible. |
Viral Diseases |
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Rabies: Canine Distemper: Symptoms: Loss of appetite, rash on the chin and inguinal area, within the next 2 days a thick discharge will come from the eye and nose. Diagnosis: Isolation and identification of virus. Treatment: None successful. Prevention: Vaccine Influenza: Symptoms: Fever, depression, loss of appetite, and a thick discharge from the nose. Diagnosis: High temperature 40 f and clinical signs. Treatment: Antibiotics to prevent secondary infection and supportive therapy. Aleutian Diseases: Symptoms: Start with back leg paralysis then progresses to all four leg paralysis, weight loss, game bleeding, and respiratory singe. Diagnosis: Laboratory testing. Treatment: None Prevention: Test the newly introduced ferret to the colony. |
Tumors |
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Lymphoma: Symptoms: Lethargy, anorexia, weight loss, vomiting, enlargement of organs without fever. Diagnosis: X-ray and biopsy. Treatment: Surgically remove the tumor and chemotherapy. Adrenal Gland Tumor Symptoms: Losing hair on tip of tail and both sides of abdomen, lethargic behavior. Diagnosis: Physical appearance, blood work, and ultrasound. Treatment: The best treatment offered at this point is surgery. Tumor can be controlled by medical therapy. Pancreas tumor (insulinoma): Symptoms: Lethargic behavior and coma if the ferret does not eat for more than 4 hours. Diagnosis: Check the ferret's blood glucose after the period of not eating. Treatment: Surgical removal of the tumor or medical treatment. |