{"id":4172,"date":"2014-09-30T22:15:30","date_gmt":"2014-09-30T22:15:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lafeber.com\/staging\/vet\/?p=4172"},"modified":"2020-04-30T14:31:48","modified_gmt":"2020-04-30T19:31:48","slug":"basic-information-for-ferrets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lafeber.com\/vet\/basic-information-for-ferrets\/","title":{"rendered":"Basic Information Sheet: Ferret"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)<\/em><\/h1>\n

\"ferret\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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Natural history<\/h2>\n

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\nThe domestic ferret is probably derived from the European polecat (M. putorius putorius<\/i>) (Chitty 2009). Ferrets serve as working animals (in the age-old tradition of “ferreting”), pets, and laboratory animals. In the United States, ferrets are raised on ferret farms where they are spayed or neutered at 6 weeks of age. After each procedure, a tattoo is placed on the ear pinna. Male ferrets are called “hobs”, females are “jills”, and juveniles are “kits”.
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Taxonomy<\/h2>\n

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\nClass<\/strong>: Mammalia<\/em><\/p>\n

Order<\/strong>: Carnivora<\/em><\/p>\n

Family<\/strong>: Mustelidae<\/em> – weasels, skunks, stoats, otters, badgers<\/p>\n

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Colors<\/h2>\n

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\nFerrets come in a variety of colors with albino and sable or fitch being the two original ferret colors. Other color standards listed by The American Ferret Association<\/a> lists include black, black sable, champagne, and chocolate. Pattern standards\u00a0 include panda, dark-eyed white, roan, and color point or Siamese.<\/p>\n

Ferrets with strong white features on the head have a genetic disposition for deafness (Fehr and Sassenburg 2015).
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Diet<\/h2>\n

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Ferrets are obligate carnivores. Free-ranging ferrets feed on fresh whole carcasses of their prey (Chitty 2009). In the US, pet ferrets should be fed a high-quality ferret food. Cat food that contains animal-based protein can be used if no ferret food is available (Bell 1999). Crude protein should be 30-35% and fat content should be 15-20%. Avoid kitten food as this contains higher fat levels than is necessary.<\/p>\n

In the UK and Europe, pets are sometimes offered high-quality, fresh carcass instead of ferret food (Chitty 2009).\u00a0 Vitamin supplements may be necessary when feeding defrosted carcasses (Chitty 2009).<\/p>\n

Taste preferences develop in the first months, therefore different food should be offered to ferrets in a young age (Quesenberry & Carpenter 2012).<\/div>

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Husbandry<\/h2>\n

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\nAlthough technically nocturnal, ferrets easily adjust their schedule to human activity (Ball 2002). House ferrets in multilevel cages with solid-bottom flooring. Provide toweling and other items for burrowing and hiding. Ferrets are also commonly litter pan trained (Boyce 2001).<\/p>\n

Never allow ferrets free roam of the home. Instead supervised play should be limited to a ferret-proofed room or region of the home.
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Normal physiologic values<\/h2>\n

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<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Temperature<\/td>\n100-103 F<\/td>\n37.8-39.4 C<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pulse<\/td>\n180-250 bpm<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Respiration<\/td>\n30-40 bpm<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Body weight<\/td>\n600-2000g<\/td>\nMales are larger<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mean life span<\/td>\n6-10 y<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sexual maturity<\/td>\n9-12 months<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gestation<\/td>\n41-42 days<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Litter size<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Birth weight<\/td>\n6-12 g<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Teeth first erupt<\/td>\n3 weeks<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Eyes open<\/td>\n32-34 days<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weaning age<\/td>\n6-8 weeks<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Daily water intake<\/td>\n75-100 ml<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Target environmental temperature:<\/td>\n65-70 F<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Target environmental humidity:<\/td>\n40-65%<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Anatomy \/ physiology<\/h2>\n

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Integumentary<\/td>\nSeasonal molts occur, especially in ferrets living outdoors, coats lighten during the summer and darken during the winter. Even when descented and castrated, sebaceous skin glands convey a musky odor (Chitty 2009). A lack of sweat glands makes ferrets vulnerable to heat stress.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dental formula Gastrointestinal<\/a><\/td>\nI3\/3 C1\/1 PM3\/3 M1\/2
\nShort, simple digestive tract with no cecum or ileocolic valve.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Musculoskeletal<\/td>\nFerrets have a slender and elongated body shape with a very flexible spine. The vertebral formula is C. 7, T. 15, L. 5-7, S. 3 (fused), Cd. 18. The thorax is very long with 15 paired ribs.<\/p>\n

The extremities are relatively short, and there are five toes on each paw (Chitty 2009).<\/p>\n

Ferrets possess powerful jaw tone due their very strong masticatory muscles (Chitty 2009).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Special Senses<\/td>\nSmall pinnae and well-developed bullae. Olfactory sense highly developed; visual sense moderately developed (Chitty 2009).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Urogenital<\/td>\nRenal cysts are common incidental findings. The male ferret possesses a J-shaped os penis. Females are induced ovulators.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cardiovascular<\/td>\nThe heart lies more caudal in the chest than in similarly sized dogs and cats.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Respiratory<\/td>\nA very narrow ventral space in the nasal conchae makes passing a nasogastric tube difficult.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Hematopoietic<\/td>\nBlood types have not been identified in ferrets and transfusion can be performed (sans cross-matching) with little risk (Marini 2014).<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Endocrine<\/td>\nEarly neutering and a lack of natural photoperiod may predispose ferrets to adrenocortical disease.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Restraint<\/a><\/h2>\n

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\nFerrets are sweet natured, gregarious animals that may be minimally
\nrestrained. Ferrets may be manually restrained<\/a>:<\/p>\n
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  1. Scruff and stretch. Instead of holding the rear limbs as in a cat, grasp the pelvis in one hand.<\/li>\n
  2. Roll the ferret up in a thin towel to create a ferret burrito.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    <\/a>Venipuncture<\/a><\/h2>\n

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    The total blood volume in ferrets is 40-60 ml; up to 10% can be withdrawn in healthy individuals.<\/p>\n

    Large volumes:\u00a0<\/strong> Jugular vein, cranial vena cava<\/a>
    \nSmall volumes:<\/strong>\u00a0     Cephalic vein or lateral saphenous vein<\/a><\/p>\n

    The ferret jugular vein is located more lateral than in a cat.
    \nThere is thickened skin over the skin of the neck in hobs.
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    Preventive medicine<\/h2>\n

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    \nAnnual examinations are recommended until ferrets are 3-4 years old, then biannual exams are recommended. Almost all pet ferrets in the United States are descented and neutered before they enter the market. As induced ovulators, all female ferrets should be spayed to prevent the risk of persistent estrus and potentially fatal anemia.<\/p>\n

    Surgically sterilized females also have a high risk for the development of hyperadrenocorticism. Chemical castration with a Deslorelin implant reduces the risk of adrenal disease (Schoemaker et al<\/em> 2018).<\/p>\n

    Vaccinate<\/a> against rabies virus and canine distemper virus (CDV). Ferrets are exquisitely sensitive to CDV and postvaccinal distemper infection has been reported after use of vaccines for dogs. Therefore ferrets should never be vaccinated with products intended for use in dogs (Meredith 2009).<\/p>\n

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    Important medical conditions<\/h2>\n

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