Ferret health problems

Adrenal disease

Adrenal disease, an overgrowth of the adrenal glands that can be produced by hyperplasia or cancer is usually diagnosed by symptoms such as hair loss, increased aggressiveness, and in females widening of the vulva.

Even if the growth is benign it can cause a hormonal imbalance that can have devastating effects on the health of the ferret. Some treatment options include removing the affected glands and steroid or hormone therapy. The cause of adrenal disease is unknown but some speculate that artificial light cycles to which ferrets are exposed may or contributes to the flood of such tumours.

Others have suggested that the problem is hereditary, and has also been much speculation that can be produced by early castration before six weeks of age.

Insulinoma

It is known that ferrets can also suffer from insulinoma, a cancer of the pancreas. The growth of cancerous nodules on the lobes of the pancreas sometimes, but not always, produces an increase in the production of insulin, which regulates glucose metabolism.

Too much insulin results in a drop in blood sugar, which causes lethargy, seizures and eventually death. Symptoms of insulinoma include lethargy, drooling, snorting and foaming at the mouth, looks “lost” glassiness of the eyes and attacks.

It is speculated that the diets of domestic ferrets are too different from the natural diet of their ancestors, and include too much sugar or carbohydrates. The treatment of insulinoma include removal of cancerous lobes, pharmaceutical treatment with steroids that suppress the production of insulin, supplemental changes in diet often chicken based baby food, or a combination of treatments.

Unfortunately the growth of tumours can not be stopped completely, and the ferret will eventually suffer the symptoms again.

Viral Diseases
Epizootic catarrhal enteritis ECE in its English acronym is a viral disease that first appeared in the U.S. Northeast in 1994, is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the intestine.

In ferrets, the disease manifests itself as severe diarrhoea often bright green, accompanied by loss of appetite and severe weight loss. The virus can pass through fluids and indirectly between humans. Although it was often fatal when it was discovered, ECE is now less of a threat, provided you have proper treatment.

The Aleutian disease virus ADV is a disease which was in the early twentieth century in the mink of the Aleutian Islands. In ferrets, the virus affects the immune system making them unable to produce effective antibodies and in the internal organs, especially kidneys.

There is no cure or vaccine for this disease, and ferrets may carry the virus for months or years without external symptoms. As a result, many organizations lovers of ferrets and vendors recommend that pet owners to submit to tests for identification of disease regularly, and being separated from other ferrets if results are positive.