european polecat
TRANSCRIPT
Ferrets are in the weasel family (Mustelids)
European polecat (Mustela putorious)
Black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sevice)
Domesticated ferret (Mustela putorious furo)-No longer exist in wild
Ermine (Mustela erminea) Natural History Notebooks- Canadian Museum of Nature
Ferrets have been domesticated for thousands of years
Domesticated ~1500 BC by Egyptians
Rabbit hunting and rodent control-especially on ships
Ferrets are illegal in some areas due to concerns with Rabies,
Attack, and Predation
California
New York City
Basic DataLife Span – 5‐9 yearsAverage weight‐Males (Hobs)‐ up to 6 lbsFemales (Jills)‐ 2‐3 lbsBabies (Kits)
At least 10 distinct coat color types exist
Sable- most common
Silver
Albino
DEW
Others Include:Silver MittSterling SilverWhite footed Sable
Butterscotch
Ferrets are quick moving, curious, and intelligent
Ferret dancingfor pit bull
Seasonal Weight Variations are Normal in Intact Animals (especially males)
Up to 40% weight change is common(e.g. 6 pound male may lose 2.4 pounds)
Shorter day length (fall)-eat more- Weight gain
Increasing light (spring)-Eat less- Weight loss
Limits disease spread (colds and flu) and makes the ferret less likely to bite
Wash hands before handling ferrets
Can also feed sweet substance (e.g. Nutri-cal, Ferretone)
“Scruffing” will cause a ferret to relax, often yawn
Sebaceous glands in the anal area and in the skin produce a musky odor under
the influence of hormones
Remove anal glands by 6 months (usually done at breeders)
Bathing may help, but will dry out the skin if too frequent
If not mating, ferrets should be spayed/neutered by 6 months
Most ferrets are neutered and de-scented at breeders
Unmated - life threatening problems (more later)
Both intact males and females may “mark” house with urine
Vaccinations are Important
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) (8 weeks, 11-12 weeks, 14-16 weeks, booster yearly)
Rabies- killed vaccine (12-13 weeks, booster yearly)
Which vaccine(s) is/are commonly given to ferrets (in addition to
Rabies)?
A. Canine DistemperB. Feline DistemperC. Feline LeukemiaD. None of the above
If you buy a ferret from a pet store it will likely already be:
• A. Neutered• B. Descented• C. Both of the above• D. None of the above
Ferrets-Housing
Easily housebroken (like cats) -still need a cage with interior
Wire cage / solid floor-multiple levels
14x24x10-two adults
Small box within cage
Ferrets-Housing
• Ferrets can be housed outside if slowly acclimated to the cold
•Water bottle
and Litter tray•Rabbit-type pellet hopper or heavy bowl
Ferrets- Nutrition
Ferrets are CARNIVORES (they eat meat)Emphasis on high quality animal food sources •The instinct to hunt is present in domestic ferrets
Ferrets- Nutrition• Very short GI tract (like cats)- no cecum
• 3 hour Rate Of Passage
• Ideal- 6 to 8 small meals per day- ad lib good, but watch total amount fed
Nutrient RequirementsNutrient Requirements
– NRC specific to ferrets not available‐ Nutrient Requirements of Mink and Foxes, Second Edition, 1982
– Commercial ferret food available and recommended
– Can use kitten food but not as well‐balanced
Meat‐based‐ If diet too high in plant protein‐ urinary pH and urolithiasis increase.
Limit Fruits (they like sweets)
Nutrient Requirements
Crude Protein30‐35% for adults (upper end for kits)
Crude Fat15‐20% (upper level for kits, lactating females)
Adult maintenance• Naturally lean but can become obese
• Limit sweets
• Teeth problems ‐moisten dry food for aged ferrets
Breeding/Reproduction• Males – hobs (neutered- gibs)
• Females -jills (neutered- sprites)
• Newborns - kits
• Birth process – whelping
• Puberty at 6-8 months
• Seasonal Breeders- Breeding season typically March-August
Breeding Reproduction• Male ferret- Penis located on ventral
abdomen• Os Penis• External testes (but usually neutered)
Breeding/Reproduction External Genitalia of Female Ferret
This female is in estrus This female is anestrus or immature
Female Reproduction• Induced ovulators; like cat • BUT>> When in heat they must mate to go out of heat (about 50%)
• If not mated ‐ continuous high estrogen levels – estrogen toxicosis
• May develop aplastic anemia ‐ die from bone marrow depression (few RBC, WBC, platelets)
Breeding / Reproduction- Pregnancy• Provide nesting box
• Gestation‐ 38‐44 days
• Litter size – 2‐15 kits per litter (avg. 8)‐ umbilical cords can become tangled
http://www.thewebferrets.nl/ferrets.html
Ferrets are born blind and hairless (altricial)
• Eyes open at 32‐ 34 days• Which species’ eyes open earlier?
–A. CATS–B. FERRETS
Reproduction Feeding• Pregnant females‐ avoid obesity‐ feed good quality
• Pregnancy toxemia can occur‐ negative energy balance in late gestation (accidental fast)
• Lactating – higher fat (20%)‐ 2X calories of maintenance
http://www.craftycreatures.com/forferretsonly/ferret_school/ferretschool_breeding.html
Ferrets‐ Orphans• Feline milk replacer works well• 20% Fat• Feedings should be every 2 hrs first week.• Feed every 4 hrs next 3‐4 weeks
Ferrets‐Growth• Start to wean at 6 wks‐ one‐half ferret food + one‐half cat milk substitute
• Expect a kit at 8‐12 wks to eat as much as an adult female
• Restrict treats‐ ensure good diet
• Moisten feed for kits until eating well
How old are these ferrets?
• A. Newborn• B. Less than 1 month old• C. At least 1 month old
http://babyanimalz.com/2010/03/cup-of-baby-ferrets/
Ferret HealthFor more information on ferret health and disease‐ Tufts open courseware:
http://ocw.tufts.edu/Content/60/lecturenotes/807949
Signs:Sneezing, mucopurulent nasal dischargeWatery eyesAnorexicFeverOwner reports that they aren’t feeling well either
1
Influenza Virus (Different from “common cold”)
• Can spread from ferret to ferret, ferret to human, human to ferret
• Low mortality rate• Treat symptomatically‐ chicken soup
1
7‐year‐old Ferret‐ lethargy, collapse, very low blood glucose, drooling Exploratory abdominal surgery found this mass
PANCREAS - (What hormone could be affected ??)
2
Insulinoma
• Growth on the pancreas– Hyperinsulinemia leads to hypoglycemia (“low blood sugar”) and explains the weakness noted
• Most common neoplasia in ferrets
2
Lethargic, Alopecia Ferret
2-year-old ferret jill is dull, lethargic, and
has a generalized alopecia
3a
Typical Endocrine Alopecia
• Bilateraly symmetrical• Non‐pruritic• May come and go (depending on cause)
3
What’s going on ??• Estrogen toxicity:
• Unbred intact female in prolonged heatOR
• Spayed female with ovarian remnant• Estrogen remains very high causing hair loss, eventual bone marrow depression and anemia.
3a
Adrenal Neoplasia
• Increased estrogens, androgens (cortisol often normal)
• Females could also have swollen vulva‐if neutered can be reasonably certain it’s hyper‐adrenal vs elevated ovarian estrogen ! (unless ovarian remnant remains)
• May require adrenal gland removal
3b
1‐year‐old spayed female Ferret
Housed indoors, decreased appetite, and intermittent diarrhea‐abnormal mass in
GI tract
4
Foreign body in GI tract !
• A rubber band was surgically removed !• Ferrets usually do not vomit unless near‐complete obstruction so don’t “wait” for vomiting as a symptom of trouble !
4
4 Month Old Ferret Found Outside
Weak
Sneezing, mucoid nasal discharge
Crusted and thickened foot pads
6
Despite care it became ataxic and comatose
Most Likely Cause ?
Influenza?
Canine Distemper Virus? Both respiratory and neurologic symptoms (if only respiratory symptoms probably flu or pneumonia)
6
Urinary tract calculi
• Pass catheter to relieve pressure• May need to surgically remove “stone”
• Struvite calculi most common‐high pH due to high plant protein
7
Lymphoma
• Adult onset (2‐9 years) and juvenile (less than 2 years)
• Variety of signs, depending on organ involvement (young ferrets‐ difficulty breathing due to enlarged thymus)
8
Possible causes• Lesion‐
– Neoplasm – many types of skin tumors are common in ferrets (in this case‐Mast Cell tumor)
– Possibly an abscess, wound• Tail hair thinning may be unrelated
– Occurs often in ferrets, usually regrows in 1‐3 mos. Cause unknown
– Suspect adrenal or hormonal disease if lasts longer or progresses above tail head
– Ferrets can also get fleas, scabies, other parasites
9
What does the term “idiopathic” mean?
• A. Below normal intelligence• B. Of unknown cause• C. Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease• D. Crystals in the urine