What can cause a ferret to be lethargic?
If your ferret is extremely lethargic and has a difficult time getting the energy to move it is often a sign of an insulinoma—a severe drop in blood glucose that can lead to seizures, comas, or even death. If your ferret is acting unusual at all it could be a sign of something much deeper.
Why is Dairy bad for ferrets?
DAIRY PRODUCTS Ferrets are carnivores and are supposed to eat meat protein, they are not designed to process dairy proteins. In particular, Ferrets lack the enzyme required to digest lactose, a little like lactose intolerant humans. The risk is some messy diarrhea and possibly dehydration and a visit to the Vet.
How long can ferrets live with insulinoma?
Overall median survival time of ferrets treated with medical and/or surgical management was 17 months (range: 14 days to 3-⅓ years). Those treated with medical management alone were euthanized 6 to 9 months after diagnosis.
Can you cure insulinoma in ferrets?
Treatment of insulinomas may be medical or surgical, depending on the severity of the disease and the age of the ferret. Medical therapy involves use of a corticosteroid like prednisone and/or a drug like diazoxide to increase blood glucose levels.
How can I tell if my ferret is blocked?
The likely signs of a gastrointestinal obstruction in any age ferret include anorexia and lethargy. Weight loss can be profound if the obstruction is chronic. Other less commonly seen signs include diarrhea, ptyalism and pawing at the mouth.
What are the symptoms of the flu for a ferret?
Ferrets with flu can have a variety of symptoms, including fever, thick clear or dried discharge from their nostrils, sneezing, coughing, decreased appetite, and weakness. There is no flu vaccine for ferrets. A veterinarian can help develop a treatment plan if your ferret gets the flu.
What causes diarrhea and vomiting in a ferret?
Symptoms: vomiting, excessive salvation, extreme lethargy, diarrhea, lack of appetite, blood in poop, teeth grinding, painful belly, weight loss Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis is caused by your ferret reacting to an allergen in their food or environment.
What happens if you give a ferret too much insulin?
When a ferret’s body produces too much insulin, their blood sugar can spike and drop, causing seizures. As far as ferret illnesses go, this is an extremely common one. Click here to learn everything you need to know about insulinoma
Why are there so many diseases in ferrets?
Unfortunately, ferrets young and old are susceptible to serious diseases. For a variety of reasons, the quality of the ferret gene pool is poor. This increases the number and frequency of diseases that affect ferrets, many of which do not have complete treatment options.
Why is my ferret crying?
If ferrets are unhappy, sick, or in pain, they tend to grind their teeth. If you notice this sign, particularly in conjunction with other signs of sickness (such as loss of energy, a runny nose, or whimpering or crying), you should take your ferret to the vet.
What do ferrets do when they are sad?
Sad ferrets may spend time in areas their buddy used to frequent. They may also slouch, flatten themselves out, and sigh. Unlike sick ferrets, sad ferrets won’t squint. Ferrets are quite inquisitive, charming, and frisky little pets.
What can I give my sick ferret?
Any time the ferret is sick, it is a good idea to give it Pedialyte. If the ferret has diarrhea, you really should give Pedialyte. This helps keep the ferret from getting dehydrated and provides it with electrolytes. (After opening, Pedialyte must be refrigerated and is only good for a number of days.)
