Registered charity No:1075974
STA Ferret Rescue
Ferret First Aid
What to do in an Emergency >
Ferret health & illnesses
The first and most important thing you can do for your ferret is to ensure you have a "ferret knowledgeable" vet, and seek their help if you are at all concerned about the health of your ferret.
For after hours emergencies, you should find out where they refer their clients to and that the referal vet has ferret-savy veterinarians present. The vets we use are all are experienced ferret vets, details can be viewed here.
It is important to keep a close eye on your ferret even when it is not ill, so as to ensure they are eating and drinking normally and haven’t had any accidents in your absence (ferrets can be accident prone due to their inquisitive playful nature). Check your ferret regularly (as a minimum twice a day) to make sure it is ok, this can be achieved during feeding, grooming and playtime.
What you feed your ferret is very important as poor diet can lead to a multitude of healt problems for ferrets, so make sure you feed your ferret a diet that is suitable.
The following are useful resources for checking symptoms:
Symptom Chart - A lengthy list of symptoms and POSSIBLE causes.
Poo Chart - Poo, poop, faeces, stool, dung, mess. Whatever you call it, it can be an indicator of your ferret's health.
Poo Guide - with photos
Hair loss/Shedding - Whats normal and should I be concerned?
Symptoms
The most common health problems of domestic ferrets
The following pages are provided to help understand some of the health problems a ferret may suffer. This information is largely based on a leaflet produced by the Ferret Advice and Information Resource, F.A.I.R., which was a ferret shelter that found homes for 1000’s of homeless ferrets in Illinois, USA, but has since closed, and information in books and on the Internet.
The following health problems are ones that many vets have dealt with on a regular basis. We hope that, with good care and caution, your ferret will never experience any of these situations, but if your ferret does, your knowing what to look for and what to do may help prolong – or even save – your ferret’s life.
This is provided for information only and whilst we have tried to make sure these statements are accurate no responsibility can be taken by STARescue or the author for the interpretation of the points made or success of the procedures/ treatments mentioned.
Useful books ...
These are some of the books that will be used by Vets in the UK
John H Lewington, Ferret Husbandry, Medicine and Surgery, Second Edition (very useful for ferret owners)
BSAVA Manual of Rodents and Ferrets
James G Fox, Ferret, Second Edition (very text book like)
FERT are working withthe Wildlife Information Network to produce a new library publication Mustalides - Ferrets: Health and Management. This will be dedicated to improving the standard of care of Ferrets and their relatives (polecats, stoats, weasels, martens etc.). The volume will provide high quality up-to-date information on their natural history, conservation, captive management, diseases and treatment (with emphasis on the ferret) in a portable, readily-accessible format. The finished volume is forecasted to be completed in 2011.
Travelling abroad?
Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)
Is the system that allows pet dogs, cats and ferrets from certain countries to enter the UK without quarantine as long as they meet the rules.
NB. Ferrets entering the UK from non-qualifying countries or that have been in non-qualifying countries within the preceding 6 months WILL BE SUBJECT to 6 months quarantine. More information >
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