These fuzzy little creatures that capture our heart and soul are not rodents; they are from the mustildae family with cousins consisting of the mink, weasel, otter, skunk, badger and European polecat.

Unlike their cousins, the domesticated ferret is not wild nor feral. In fact if left outside on it's own they would most likely die without human intervention in a few day as their survival instincts at best is extremely minimal.While these little creatures warm our hearts and depend on us for their every need, they are not the right pet for everyone.

Taking on the responsibilities of caring for a ferret and knowing what their care and health needs are should be considered before taking the step of bringing one home.A ferrets normal life span is from 8 - 10 years, and beginning at the age of 2-3 they are susceptible to two very common serious illnesses: Insulinoma and Adrenal Disease, which could require medical and/or surgical intervention, which could become quite costly.

A ferret will need to be seen by a ferret knowledgeable veterinarian at least annually for a check-up and required vaccines consisting of rabies (IMRAB3) and distemper (Purevax-D, Fervac-D). Though not approved for use in ferrets, Galaxy-D has been used safely for years and provides the necessary protection.

Ferrets should be housed in a cage when supervision, or a dedicated ferret proof room cannot be provided. The cage should provide ample room for playing, as well as house a litter box, water bottle, food bowl, and various hammocks to relax in. Rabbit cages or cages of this size are not appropriate. While they will be content and happy in their cage, they do require ample time out of their cage to run free and burn off the energy they have an abundance of. Minimally, they should let out for 3-4 hours each day.

While they are very social creatures, care and attention should be given at all times around other pets, especially young children. Young children tend to grab and pull, and the small ferret weighing around 1.5-4 pounds could get hurt and attack in self-defense. Ferrets (or any pet) should NEVER be left unsupervised with children.

Owning any pet should be a lifetime commitment, regardless of their health, needs and/or expenses involved. While these fuzzy little babies with their crazy little antics keep us entertained and provide an eternity of love, it's important to ensure they're the right pet for you and that you can take on the full commitment and responsibility they trust you will provide.

 

• Adrenal Disease
• Aleutian's Disease (ADV)
• Cardiomyopathy
• Ferret Distemper
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Insulinoma Disease
• Lymphoma/Lymphosarcoma   
   

Ferrets have 30 baby and 34 adult teeth. All baby teeth should be in by 3 months and lost by 9 months of age.

There are four main types of teeth. The six small upper and lower incisors located in the front that are used to gather food; four canines, also called fang or eye teeth used to puncture the food; three upper and lower premolars used to shear or cut food; and one upper and two lower molars used to grind up food.

Ferret dental problems are similar to dog and cat conditions. Fractured teeth occur commonly. The tooth can break from a fight or other trauma. At times only the enamel is chipped, which should be treated by allowing the veterinarian to sedate the ferret and grind down any rough edges. Other times the tooth fractures to expose the nerve. If there is nerve exposure, the treatment of choice is to remove the inflamed nerve to save the tooth. Metallic or acrylic is used to restore the tooth.

Ferrets even suffer from some orthodontic conditions. One or both of the lower canines may abnormally point forward. This condition may cause the upper lip to become inflamed and cause excess dryness of the lower gum tissues. Treatment consists of removing half or three quarters and sealing the pulp chamber with medication and acrylic bonding.

Periodontal disease is the most common condition in the ferret older than 6 years old. Periodontal disease can be decreased through cleaning every 6 months and daily tooth brushing. Special dog and cat tooth pastes appear to be safe to use in ferrets. Treatment of periodontal disease consists of extraction of loose teeth and frequent veterinary oral evaluation.

Ferrets are frequently presented to veterinarians to "trim" teeth in order to decrease damage from biting. However, the procedure of "trimming" canine teeth to make exotic animals (ferrets, primates, feral, and exotic cats) behave is barbaric and should not be tolerated by the veterinary community. In most cases, the consenting veterinarian simply cuts the tooth in half. Unfortunately this allows food and bacteria to travel down the open root canal system, eventually causing a deep infection in the bone. In addition to being painful, the infection can also spread to the heart, liver, and kidneys, causing harm. If your ferret's teeth have been trimmed in the past, a veterinarian familiar with dentistry should be consulted to x-ray the tooth roots and remove the infected nerve prior to sealing the canal if possible.

If the ferret owner has exhausted all other behavioral modification means to control biting, the canines' height can be reduced using a procedure called vital pulpotomy, where the root canal system is sealed, not allowing infection or discomfort.