HOW MUCH IS THAT FERRET IN THE WINDOW?
Imagine, if you will...
...You’re walking around the local mall and just happen to spot some cute,
playful little balls of fluff in a pet store window. Ferret math has struck!!!
You can’t resist that adorable face (or two). Credit card in hand, you
march in and purchase your newest addition to the family. You’re now out
$100+ and are contemplating several names for the new little darling. But wait!
Have you considered what additional costs will go along with this new baby?
The accompanying chart will give you an idea of what you will spend on your
new family member for proper health care through the years.
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| Ultrasound (as needed) |
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| Total |
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| KIT VACCINATION SERIES - TOTAL = 104.00 |
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1 THE DIAGNOSTIC TESTS LISTED IN THIS COLUMN ARE IMPORTANT TOOLS USED TO DETECT EARLY SIGNS OF ILLNESS
AND DISEASES THAT ARE COMMON IN FERRETS
2 MOST FERRETS WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE MAJOR SURGERY DURING THEIR LIFE
*A complete physical should include checking the animal’s weight, temperature,
heart rate, and respiration rate as well as checking eyes, ears, mouth/teeth
and palpating the abdomen.
Prices shown are an example of the charges you might find in the Atlanta area
and have been rounded up to the nearest dollar amount. Prices will vary depending
on the location of the animal hospital and the experience of the doctor.
For yearly exams and vaccinations, ferrets require an experienced veterinarian
most familiar with their SPECIAL medical needs, who is both able to recognize
“ferret-specific” conditions and administer treatment. Please consider
that this level of quality care often means a further drive and increased expense.
Due to the level of expertise we require as an organization knowledgeable and
experienced in ferret care, we
can recommend the following doctors and facilities with confidence.
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Bathing: No more than every two months. Shampooing more often causes
skin irritation, dryness and increased scratching and odor! A ferret with a
strong odor is either sick or not cared for properly.
Ear Cleaning: Ears can be cleaned during baths and in-between using on
of the many pet ear cleansers available through your veterinarian. Warm the
bottle of ear cleanser beforehand. Scruff the ferret and fill the ear canal
with the warmed cleanser (make sure it’s not too hot by putting a few drops
on your wrist) , massage the base of the ear to loosen any debris deep in the
ear canal, and stand back as the ferret shakes his head. Then wipe any loosened
debris that comes to the surface with a Q-tip dipped in the cleanser being careful
to only clean those areas you can see. Check weekly and clean as needed. (This
sometimes requires two “trained” humans!)
Nail Trimming: Don’t allow nails to grow long enough to split and
risk getting caught in carpet or bedding material. Check weekly and trim as
needed. This procedure is best performed when the ferret is sleepy or distracted
with a treat (Nutri-Cal, Ferretone) offered on a spoon or smeared on his belly.
Nutritional/Vitamin Supplements and Treats: Vitamin supplements are not
necessary if a healthy ferret is maintained on a good quality dry cat food or
one of the more recently developed ferret foods. Nutri-Cal and Ferretone are
nutritional and vitamin supplements readily accepted by most ferrets. Consult
your veterinarian for their proper use.
Treats such as fresh fruits or vegetables, and dried fruits such as raisins,
dates or banana chips can be offered.
As a general rule supplements and treats should be limited to
no more than 1 tsp. per day.
Laxatone/Cat-Lax: These are hairball remedies that should be used during
seasonal coat changes to prevent hair buildup within the stomach that could
result in intestinal blockage. Use approximately a 1” strip every 1-2 days
for the duration of the shedding.
ADRENAL DYSFUNCTION is proving to be a common
medical condition requiring surgery in ferrets (possibly the most common) occurring
at any age. Affected enlarged adrenal glands or tumors located on these glands
(usually non-cancerous) can cause hair loss (not to be confused with the normal
seasonal coat change), inability to urinate in males (affected prostate), and
a swollen vulva in females. Other less common symptoms include itchiness, a
stronger scent than usual and breeding behavior in neutered males. Prognosis
is always best with early diagnoses and prompt treatment to prevent adrenal
disorder and any resulting complications from becoming life-threatening.
Most ferrets will need an “adrenalectomy” at some stage in
life to remove one or both adrenal glands (see exploratory surgery column on
the Ferret Lifetime Health Chart). Since the loss of these glands in no way
jeopardizes future health, removal of the entire gland along with the tumor
(if any) is recommended in order to eradicate existing disease and symptoms
and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Adrenal dysfunction is entirely treatable, and this surgery to restore
normal hormone function lessens neither length nor quality of life. Euthanasia
is not to be considered unless the patient is very old and has
additional life-threatening conditions (other than those brought about by the
initial adrenal disorder which an adrenalectomy will subsequently remedy). But
age alone should not be the determining factor when deciding whether
to end life, as older ferrets have recovered extremely well from routine adrenal
surgery.
CANCER is common in ferrets. A variety of treatment
options exist, depending on type and location, and most importantly the degree
of progression upon diagnosis.
SKIN TUMORS/GROWTHS are common but often difficult
to detect until a ferret scratches open the surface causing bleeding and scabbing.
Removal is recommended to prevent a benign growth from becoming malignant. This
is minor out-patient surgery, less than exploratory surgery.
GASTRIC ULCERS - Ferrets are sensitive and emotional
animals. Their ability to adjust to loss (of a caretaker, cage-mate or environment)
and various other changes is greatly determined by individual personality, background
and age. Stress can cause stomach ulcers more often and to a greater degree
than in other animals due to a particular bacteria commonly found in the stomach.
Symptoms of gastric (stomach) ulcers include chronic diarrhea and loss of appetite.
Seek veterinary care immediately; ferrets can dehydrate rapidly. Recommended
treatment includes antibiotics and a coating agent such as Pepto-Bismol accompanied
by liquid dietary supplements
(ie; hand-feeding) for up to 4-6 weeks. Stubborn cases may require months of
continuous treatment.
COMPILED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE GEORGIA FERRET ASSOCIATION, INC. - 770-554-1204
4/99