FERRET Mustela putorious furo
Natural history The domestic ferret is probably derived from the European polecat (M. putorious putorious). 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”.
Taxonomy Class Mammalia Order Carnivora Family Mustelidae Mustelids include weasels, stoats, skunks, otters, and badgers.
Colors The American Ferret Association recognizes 42 breeds. Ferrets come in a variety of colors with albino and sable or fitch being the two original ferret colors.
Diet Feed a ferret food or high-quality cat food that contains animal- based protein. Avoid kitten food as this contains higher fat levels than is necessary. Crude protein should be 30-35% and fat content should be 15- 20%.
Husbandry Although technically nocturnal, ferrets easily adjust their schedule to human schedules. House ferrets in multi-level solid- schedule to human schedules. House ferrets in multi-level cages with solid-bottom flooring. Provide toweling and other items for burrowing and hiding. Ferrets are also commonly litter pan trained.
Normal physiologic Temperature 100-103ºF 37.8-39.4ºC values Pulse 180-250 bpm Respiration 30-40 bpm Mean systolic blood pressure 133-161 mmHg (conscious) Mean diastolic 110-125 mmHg (anesthetized) Body weight 600-2000 g Males are larger. (F:600-1000 g)
Life span 6-10 years FERRET Sexual maturity 9-12 months Gestation 41-42 days Litter size 8 Birth weight 6-12 g Teeth first erupt 3 weeks Eyes open 32-34 days Weaning 6-8 weeks Daily water intake 75-100 ml Target environmental temperature 65-70ºF 39-64ºC Target relative humidity 40-65%
Seasonal molts occur, especially in ferrets living outdoors, Anatomy/ Integumentary: coats physiology lighten during the summer and darken during the winter. Even when descented, sebaceous skin glands convey a musky odor. A lack of sweat glands makes ferrets vulnerable to heat stress. Gastrointestinal: Dental formula: I3/3 C1/1 PM3/3 M1/2 Short, simple digestive tract with no cecum or ileocolic valve. Musculoskeletal: The spine is very flexible Vertebral formula: C7 T15 L5 (6 or 7) S3 Cd18 Ferrets have powerful jaw tone. Even debilitated ferrets generally require induction agents for intubation. Urogenital: Renal cysts are common incidental findings. The male ferret possesses a J-shaped os penis. Females are induced ovulators. Cardiovascular: The heart lies more caudal in the chest than in similarly sized dogs and cats. A very narrow ventral space in the nasal conchae makes passing Respiratory: a nasogastric tube difficult. Hematopoietic: Blood types have not been identified in ferrets and cross- matching is not required. Early neutering and a lack of natural photoperiod may Endocrine: predispose ferrets to adrenocortical disease.
Annual examinations are recommended until ferrets are 3-4 Preventive medicine 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.
Vaccinate against rabies virus and canine distemper virus (CDV). Ferrets are exquisitely sensitive to CDV and should never be vaccinated with products intended for use in dogs. vaccinated with products intended for use in dogs. FERRET Adrenocortical disease Helicobacter gastritis Important medical Human influenza virus conditions Insulinoma Lymphoma
Venipuncture Large volumes: jugular vein, cranial vena cava Small volumes: lateral saphenous or cephalic veins
The ferret jugular vein is located more lateral than in a cat There is thickened skin over the skin of the neck in hobs
Ferrets are sweet-natured, gregarious animals that may be Restraint minimally restrained. Ferrets may be manually restrained 1Scruff and stretch. Instead of holding the rear limbs as in a cat, grasp the pelvis in one hand. 2Roll the ferret up in a thin towel to create a ferret burrito. cephalic veins.
References Ball RS. Husbandry and management of the domestic ferret. Lab Anim 31(5):37- and further 42, 2002. reading Banks RE, Sharp JM, Doss SD, Vanderford DA. Exotic Small Mammal Care and Husbandry. Durham, NC: Wiley-Blackwell; 2010. Boyce SW, Zingg BM, Lightfoot TL. Behavior of Mustela putorius furo (The Domestic Ferret). Vet Clin Exot Pract 4(3):697-712, 2001. Caplan ER, Peterson ME, Mullen HS, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of insulin- secreting pancreatic islet cell tumors in ferrets: 57 cases (1986-1994). J Am Vet Med Assoc 209(10):1741-1745, 1996. Dyer SM, Cervasio EL. An overview of restraint and blood collection techniques in exotic pet practice. Vet Clin Exot Anim 11:423-443, 2008. Ehrhart N, Withrow SJ, Ehrhart EJ, Wimsatt JH. Pancreatic islet cell tumor in ferrets: 20 cases (1986-1994). J Am Vet Med Assoc 209(10):1737-1740, 1996. Erdman SE, Brown SA, Kawasaki TA, et al. Clinical and pathologic findings in ferrets with lymphoma: 60 cases (1982-1994). J Am Vet Med Assoc 208(8):1285- 1289, 1996. Johnson-Delaney CA. The ferret gastrointestinal tract and Helicobacter mustelae infection. Vet Clin Exot Anim 8:197-212, 2005. Lewington J. Ferrets. In: O’Malley B (ed). Clinical Anatomy and Physiology of Exotic Species. Saunders Elsevier. 2005. Pp. 237-261. Mitchell MA, Tully TN. Manual of Exotic Pet Practice. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. Quesenberry KE, Carpenter JW (eds). Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents: Clinical Medicine and Surgery, 2nd ed. Philadelphia, WB Saunders, 2004. Weiss CA, Williams BH, Scott MV. Insulinoma in the ferret: clinical findings and treatment comparison of 66 cases. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 34:471-475.
Author: Christal Pollock, DVM, Dipl. ABVP-Avian; Lafeber Company veterinary consultant Date: March 31, 2010