Ferrets

   Hi there! Thank you for spending your precious time to read my blog. As a diploma student in animal health and production, currently studying in UPM Bintulu Campus, Sarawak, it is my dream to further my study in the veterinary field and hopefully can be a veterinarian. The veterinary field is not all about cats and dogs (small animals). The art of veterinary medicine extends itself into many families of creatures.  As the first post in my blog, I would like to share with all of you about the ferret.

   The ferret has become one of the more popular pets in today’s society. However, it is seldom seen in Malaysia and is mostly domesticated in the United States and commercially raised for the pet industry and medical research. It is conjectured that they arrived in North America as pets from early English settlers over 300 years ago. They are most likely a domesticated variety of the European ferret ( Mustela putorius furo).

 Mustela putorius furo

   The black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) is an indigenous species of the southwestern United States.

Mustela nigripes

   The ferret has an elongated body that allows the animal to enter small areas and holes for the pursuit of prey. The males are larger than the females and their weight fluctuations vary according to season, as does that of dogs, cats and people.

There are three naturally occurring coat colour patterns. Sable is the most commonly observed but albino and cinnamon are also seen.

Cinnamon ferret

Albino ferret

Sable ferret

   The sable ferret, also known as ‘fitch’, has been reported as a cross between the European polecat and ferret. They typically have black-tipped guard hair, cream undercoat, black feet and tail with a black mask.

*Ferrets have no sweat glands in their skin. Due to this the veterinary staff must be aware of the possibility of hyperthermia.

Ferret family

   Ferrets are active little animals limited to the trouble that they can get into only by the size of their head. The adult males are called hobs, intact females are called jills, spayed females are sprites and juveniles are called kits.

Common and zoonotic diseases

     Intestinal obstructions are very common in young inquisitive ferrets. These individuals present with or without vomiting, they are lethargic and in most situations there is a palpable abdominal mass.Tumours present themselves in many ways with ferrets. The most common tumours involve the adrenal gland. These tumours may be benign or malignant. Adrenal gland disease is most often presented as a dermatological concern. Hair loss on the tail, bilateral hair loss along abdomen and vulval enlargement in spayed females are consistent findings with adrenal gland involvement. Adrenal tumours can also cause behaviour change and generalised muscle wasting. Secondary complications of the disease found in male ferrets involve the prostate in the form of prostatic hyperplasia or cysts and are presented dysuria. Bacterial or fungal bladder infections can be sequella to prostatic disease in males with adrenal disease. This problem is extremely difficult to treat.

Intestinal obstructions

   Insulinomas  are among the more challenging disease syndromes to manage. Ferrets present very weak and sometimes seizuring. Because of the excessive insulin produced by this pancreatic tumour, their blood glucose levels are very low. These animals are often presented extremely depressed or even comatose.

Ferret suffering from insulinomas

   Ectoparasites such as fleas, ear mites, sarcoptic mites and ticks are common in ferrets and are easily treated. Endoparasites are uncommon but coccidia and giardiasis are occasionally found. There is some geographic prevalence to ringworm (mycotic) in some individuals.

Giardiasis

Ectoparasites

Coccidia

   Those above are just some informative facts about ferrets for people to have a clear figure of what ferret actually is. I hope with this short article, it can create awareness on society about the importance of protecting animals, be it domesticated or wildlife.

Source : Exotic animal medicine for the veterinary technician / edited by Bonnie Ballard and Ryan Cheek; Blackwell Publishing (2003)