You can help keep your ferret healthy by bringing him or her in for an exam once a year. That way, we can monitor any changes that occur in your pet and help prevent or catch diseases early, when they’re easier to treat. As ferrets age, they may need additional testing and dental care.
Common problems associated with ferrets include gastrointestinal disease, parasites, insulinoma, adrenal disease, and cancer. In addition, ferrets are inquisitive creatures by nature and frequently ingest objects they shouldn’t. Regular blood tests can help determine whether your ferret has any problems with the kidneys, liver, or pancreas.
Ferrets can also benefit from receiving certain vaccinations and monthly preventives, which we can discuss with you during your visit. We vaccinate ferrets for canine distemper and rabies. Please bring a stool sample to your ferret’s annual exam so we can test for internal parasites.
It is incredibly important to spay ferrets! When a female ferret (also known as a Jill) goes into heat, they do not come out of their cycle until they are bred. If they are not bred, the production of hormones shuts down their bone marrow. The bone marrow dies causing irreversible, life-threatening anemia (extremely low red blood cells). Ultimately this can lead to death. In male ferrets, neutering can reduce their strong body odor, prevent marking, and reduce aggressive behavior.
Please contact us right away if your ferret develops any unusual symptoms, such as vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, lack of appetite, trouble breathing, black ear wax, discharge from the eyes or nose, lumps, swelling, or an increase in aggression or sexual behavior (especially in neutered males).