The Ferret – General Advice

The ferret is a small mammal belonging to the mustelid family, just like the weasel, the stoat and the skunk! Its origins probably date back to the European polecat. It was domesticated over two thousand years ago, first to exterminate vermin in houses and on boats, then its talents were used in hunting rabbits to drive them out of their dens. Today, in addition to being used in research, people can enjoy their wonderful appeal as a pet.

The ferret is a charming companion, playful, amusing, curious and nosy. It can live 5 to 8 years and generally gets along very well with cats and dogs. Their maintenance is easy but there are some particularities to be aware of:

• Do not leave a ferret with a very young child.
• Never put your face near an unknown ferret.
• Young ferrets are nibblers: this is normal and will pass in 95% of cases by the age of 4 to 6 months.
• Ferrets can attack and injure birds, rabbits, rats, hamsters and other small prey.
• The ferret is not instinctively clean, but it generally defecates in the same places. Sometimes 2 or 3 litter boxes will be needed in the house.

Nutrition

Ferret-specific food is the best option. If it's unavailable in your area, high-quality kitten food can be a suitable alternative. However, adult cat food is not recommended, and dog food should be avoided entirely.

The quality of the feed is very important. Its first ingredient must be meat (never a vegetable). At AnimaPlus, our top recommendation for ferret feed is Zupreem Premium Ferret Diet.

Beware of digestive blockage due to ingestion of foreign bodies. Ferrets love to play with (and swallow) all sorts of things. The most common are pieces of rubber, plastic, leather, fabric threads, large pieces of food (peanuts, almonds, raw carrots) and hair.

Hygiene & Grooming

A bath about once a month with an anti-odor shampoo as well as a gentle ferret shampoo (Epi-Soothe with oatmeal from Virbac or Pet Shampoo from Oxyfresh, both available from us). You will find that some ferrets love water, and others hate it.

Gentle ear cleaning: 1 to 2 times a month or if necessary, with a cleanser that helps dissolve wax (e.g. Epi-otic, Avena-Sativa, available in our hospitals).

Trim claws as needed.

We also recommend that you purchase a specific scale to weigh your ferret on a weekly basis.

Health

The ferret is a robust animal but it also has its health problems.

• Many ferrets get ear mites, especially when they are young. It is important to have your pet's ears checked by one of our veterinarians. Treatment will be prescribed afterwards.
• All ferrets must be vaccinated against distemper annually, so 3 times when they are young (first vaccination at the breeder and 2 boosters thereafter). This disease is fatal in all cases and is highly contagious, even through indirect contact. Rabies vaccination and Lupron injections (see our guide to preventing adrenal disease for more on this) are also recommended annually.
• A ferret that suddenly stops eating and vomits often has a foreign body in its intestines. An urgent visit to the vet is necessary.
• Ferrets over 3 years old are unfortunately often prone to cancer. The 6 month examination, during vaccination, allows some of them to be detected.
• A health profile is recommended from the age of 3. Take a look at our Geriatric Ferret Tests brochure in this same section.
• As ferrets age, they are prone to developing a cancerous mass on their pancreas called insulinoma. This tumor produces an abnormally high amount of insulin, which causes blood sugar levels to drop (hypoglycemia). A ferret whose blood sugar is too low will have one or more of the following symptoms: sleeping more, nausea, excessive salivation, weakness in the hind legs, lack of drive, coma.
• The ferret is susceptible to the human influenza virus. Stay away from yoru ferret if you blow your nose and sneeze!
• Nowadays, almost all ferrets sold in pet stores are already spayed/neutered and deglanded.
• A ferret that is losing hair abnormally is most likely suffering from a disease involving its adrenal glands. Surgery and/or medication are necessary to combat this disease.
• Other symptoms of adrenal hyperplasia disease:
  • excessive skin itching; increased body odor;
  • increase in the volume of the female's vulva (resembles heat);
  • difficulty urinating in males because the prostate enlarges and obstructs the urethra.

As with all other animals, a purchase examination carried out by an AnimaPlus veterinarian and then an annual examination is recommended.