Bringing in your ferret to the veterinarian once or twice a year for exams can help keep him/her healthy. We can monitor any changes that occur in your pet and help prevent or catch diseases early. As ferrets age, they may need additional testing and dental care. Like cats and dogs, ferrets can have similar dental disease such as; tarter build up, fractures, and orthodontic conditions.
Ferrets can also benefit from receiving certain vaccinations and monthly preventives, which we are happy to discuss with you during your visit. Please bring a stool sample to your ferret’s exam, so we can test for intestinal parasites. The current recommendations are:
- Rabies virus vaccine
- Distemper vaccine
- Flea prevention such as Revolution or Advantage
*Vaccines are specifically manufactured for ferrets and cannot be substituted with canine forms of the vaccine*
**Most ferrets are spayed/neutered prior to purchasing**
- If you believe your ferret is intact, please call to make an appointment for an exam
- Leaving your ferret intact, without plans on breeding, can lead to life threatening diseases.
Common problems associated with ferrets include gastrointestinal disease, parasites, and cancer. In addition, ferrets are inquisitive creatures by nature and frequently ingest objects they should not. Regular blood tests can help determine whether your ferret has any problems with the kidneys, liver, or pancreas.
Please contact us right away if your ferret develops any unusual symptoms, such as:
- Hair loss/Alopecia
- Vulvar enlargement
- Increase in aggression or sexual behavior (especially in neutered males).
- Vomiting, drooling, pawing at mouth, grinding teeth, diarrhea, or blood in feces
- Coughing, sneezing, respiratory secretion, or trouble breathing
- Discharge from the eyes or nose
- Dazed, glassy-eyed stare, lethargy, lack of appetite, weakness, collapse, or seizures
- Rear leg weakness or wobbliness
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Masses, lumps or swelling
