Ascertaining the frequency of their bowel movements does vary depending on how much they eat. As ferrets are free feeders, pooping can reach up to x per day, or be as little as x per day. Be aware that ferrets can shed Salmonella and other germs.
Avoid contact with animal poop and urine because it can make you sick. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after feeding or cleaning up behind ferrets. With ECE, the feces may change color and consistency, even within the course of a single day, and may be green and slimy, brown and watery, or have an appearance like tiny yellow to brown millet seeds covered with mucus.
Some ferrets with ECE may go on to develop gastric ulcers. Do clean the safe twice a week with a pet-safe disinfectant. Replace the litter in his tray weekly, but remove his poops every day with a litter scoop. A quiet backroom or utility is ideal for indoor ferrets.
Ferrets will let you know when the litter box is past cleaning time, by not using it. Keep all litter boxes cleaned and filled with a non-clumping cat litter. You can let your ferret sleep with you on the bed. I am a little paranoid I will hurt my ferrets when I roll over the bed and squeeze them. Do not use clumping or clay cat litter for your ferrets. This type of litter is very dusty and can cause breathing problems for your ferrets.
Make sure all burrowing material is free of loops, holes, or loose strings to prevent nails from getting caught. If your ferret chews on cloth, remove these items and provide a small cardboard or wooden box with clean straw or hay as a sleeping area.
Litter Boxes: Ferrets normally select a latrine area by backing up to a vertical surface to eliminate. Most ferrets can be litter pan trained, especially when started at a young age. Place a small, low-sided pan in the cage corner your pet has already selected as a latrine. Provide a thin layer of litter. Pelleted litter such as recycled newspaper products or natural fiber litters are preferable as they are cleaner, absorbent, non-toxic if swallowed, and compostable.
Ferrets do not cover up their waste so spot clean daily and change litter several times a week to minimize odor. Toys: Ferrets love toys, but be very careful when selecting them. Consider the individual ferret and their personalities, taking into consideration how destructive they are. Tunnel-type toys such as large cardboard mailing tubes, dryer hoses, paper bags, and PVC piping stimulate normal activity like burrowing. Do not give your ferret soft rubber, foam or latex toys since they are likely to be ingested.
Ferrets are capable of squeezing into very narrow spaces. Seal any opening with wire mesh or wood. Even holes as small as 2 x 2 inches 5 cm x 5 cm should be blocked.
Remove recliners and sofa beds from the ferret-proofed areas. The levers and springs underneath have crushed many curious ferrets. Prevent access to wires, sponges, rubber-soled shoes, pipe insulation, rubber bands, erasers, rubber toys or balls. Foam and rubber are the most common causes of GI obstructions in young ferrets. This is life-threatening and often necessitates surgery to remove the obstruction. Always offer food free choice at all times. Provide water at all times as well.
Bottle sippers that hang on the cages are typically the best option for ferrets, as they can be kept clean and cannot be easily spilled. Some ferrets prefer drinking out of dishes, so make sure your ferrets know how to and actually do drink out of the water bottle.
New pet ferret should be examined within the first week to look for any signs of illness, ear mites, and intestinal parasites. Bring your ferret in a carrier or travel cage for safety.
Exams should then be performed once a year, and then twice a year once your ferret turns 3 years old, to make sure your ferret is healthy. Ferrets should be vaccinated yearly for rabies and distemper, usually until they are 4 years of age. We typically stop vaccinations at this time because the risk of having an allergic reaction significantly increases as the ferrets get older. Yearly routine blood work and x-rays are needed starting around age 3 to detect early onset of diseases at a time when treatment will be most effective.
Knowing the common diseases in ferrets and what signs to look for will help you know if you need to bring your ferret in for an exam. Below are some common diseases in ferrets and what signs to watch for in your pets:. Though ANY age ferret can get ANY of these problems listed below, we have listed here the most common diseases based on age groups for ferrets. Strings, rubber door stoppers, and pieces of toys can all get lodged in the intestinal tract and cause an obstruction.
Signs include vomiting, appetite loss, lethargy, and abdominal pain. Treatment is surgical removal of the obstruction.
Hairballs can also be a cause of obstruction in any aged ferret, and sometimes have to be removed surgically. This is a viral disease that happens typically to ferrets in an established household when new, young ferrets are brought in from pet stores, but it can occur in any ferret. Young ferrets typically recover faster than older ferrets. Signs include a greenish-colored, mucous diarrhea that may have the appearance of what looks like bird seeds coming out in the stool.
Ferrets can be lethargic, have a poor appetite, and become dehydrated. Treatment is symptomatic and owners should be aware that episodes can happen throughout life during periods of illness or stress. Does your ferret have itchy ears? Then ear mites may be the cause. Though any age ferret can get ear mites, most are typically young ferrets coming from pet stores, breeders or other places where many ferrets come in contact with each other.
Coccidia, nematodes, and protozoal parasites are all found in newly acquired ferrets coming from pet stores, breeders, and other places where ferrets are housed together in larger numbers. A fecal should always be performed on any new ferret to identify parasites, even if a dewormer has been given. Some ferrets that have chronic gastrointestinal problems will actually have IBD. Food allergies, stress, and infections can all be underlying causes of IBD in ferrets.
Signs include diarrhea, decreased appetite, lethargy, and occasionally vomiting. Treatment is symptomatic during flare-ups, and hypoallergenic diets are usually prescribed to control signs.
Insulinoma This is a cancer of middle-aged to older ferrets. Tumors grow in the pancreas that secrete too much insulin, which is a hormone the body uses to regulate blood sugar. Blood sugar levels drop too low because there is too much insulin being made by the tumors in the pancreas.
Signs include stumbling especially weakness in the hind legs , staring off into space with a dazed expression, drooling, teeth grinding a sign of nausea and intestinal pain , and if the blood sugar levels drop too low, coma, seizures and death can occur. Emergency treatment is necessary if your ferret is unresponsive or seizuring. Place some honey or Karo syrup on the gums and bring your ferret immediately to the hospital. In stock. Add to Cart. Alert Designates an important message. Something went wrong.
Please try again. Key Benefits Premium diet food is grain-free and comes in the form of pellets for an immediate breakdown in the digestive system Formulated with fresh ingredients to deliver a very nutritional diet, this food is perfect for ferrets because of their strict meat-based protein diet Each pellet contains 40 percent protein and is made with a low heat, and slow cooking process to preserve amino acids and vitamins that can sometimes be lost in the cooking process Added vitamins, minerals and amino acids can help provide a healthier immune system, while the omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help with skin and coat care Grain free, gluten free, and wheat free for a healthy but complete diet See all items by Marshall Item Number.
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