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Pet Health
 The ferret it's not a wild animal, though ferrets are descendants of the weasel. There are several varieties of ferrets, based on coloration. Fitch ferrets (the most popular) are buff-colored, with black masks, feet and tails. Albino ferrets are white, with pink eyes. There is also the Siamese ferret. The female ferret is called a "jill", while the male is called a "hob". Babies are "kits".
Behavior
Ferrets make wonderful pets because of their engaging personalities, playful activity and fastidious nature. They can be easily trained to use a litter box because they tend to habitually urinate and defecate n the same places. Provide a low-sided litter box for easy entry and exit. More than one litter box may be necessary if the ferret has free run of the house.
There is no innate animosity between ferrets and dogs and cats, and all can usually share a household with little difficulty. However, ferrets have been known to attack pet birds, so it is advisable for owners of both to take appropriate precautions to prevent these encounters.
Ferrets are naturally inquisitive and can squeeze through very small spaces. it is important to "ferret-proof" your house before bringing your pet home. Thoroughly check every room it will inhabit, sealing all holes and openings wider that 1 inch in diameter. Make sure that all windows that may be opened have secure screens. Check the openings around plumbing, heating, and air conditioning ducts or pipes.
Ferrets are so small and silent that you will usually not hear them approach. They are easily stepped on when they are sleeping under a throw rug or suddenly turn up under foot. Their love of tunneling and their inherent curiosity frequently places them in potentially dangerous situations. They could very easily crawl unnoticed into your refrigerator, into the bottom broiler of a stove, through the rungs of a balcony railing, out the front door, or even end up in the washing machine with clothes under which the ferret was sleeping. Other dangers include folding sofa beds and reclining chairs. The obvious solution to avoiding accident and injury is to learn your ferret's habits and be constantly vigilant.
To help protect your ferret, especially if it is allowed free run of the house, obtain an adjustable cat collar with a bell. The bell will signal that your ferret is in the vicinity and you should be extra careful not to injure your ferret. The bell also helps to warn caged birds that the pet ferret is nearby. The collar also indicates to unknowing neighbors (many people have no idea what a ferret is) that whatever it is, it must be someone's pet.
While ferrets are not destructive to most household items (furniture, clothing, etc.), some have a tendency to chew on soft rubber. This is especially dangerous because rubber items can become impacted in your ferret's intestines. Ingested pieces of kitchen gloves or sponges with household chemicals can also threaten your ferret's life if eaten. Latex rubber squeak toys should not be given to ferrets because they may swallow parts of them, causing intestinal obstruction.
All ferrets have an affinity for people. Some enjoy people more than others. The older a ferret is, the mellower it is likely to become. With that on mind, remember that young "kits" tend to be nippy, but no more than a new kitten or puppy. They just nip with more enthusiasm. Ferrets have tough skin and kits have sharp litter teeth. The roughhousing a kit may do with its littermates may not be appropriate for some owners. This roughhousing leads many new ferret owners to confuse this nippiness for viciousness, even though the same behavior in a new kitten or puppy is accepted.
Diseases
Two medical conditions of ferrets demand special mention: the ferret's extreme susceptibility to canine distemper and the unusual consequences of female ferrets coming into heat. Other medical conditions are also briefly discussed below.
Canine Distemper
Ferrets are highly susceptible to canine distemper. The initial signs of the disease appear 7-10 days after exposure to the virus and include in appetence and a tick mucus and pus-laden discharge from the eyes and nostrils. A rash commonly appears under the chin and in the groin area 10-12 days following exposure. The footpads become greatly thickened. This disease is considered 100% fatal, with infected ferrets dying 3-3 1/2 weeks after initial exposure.
Prevention of this disease should be an absolute priority because treatment is useless. Kits should fist be vaccinated against canine distemper at 6-8 weeks of age (4-5 weeks of age if kits are from unvaccinated mothers). A booster vaccination is essential 2-3 weeks later. Yearly boosters are recommended thereafter.
Heat Periods
Female ferrets are seasonally polyestrus, which means they can come into heat more than once during the breeding season (March through August). They are also induced ovulators, which means ovulation occurs after copulation. Swelling of the external genitalia recognizes the onset of heat. If a ferret in heat does not engage in copulation, she will remain in heat for up to 160 days. If she is bred, the swelling of the external genitalia usually regresses to normal within 2-3 weeks. Any female ferret not intended for breeding should be spayed at 6-8 months of age.
Feline Distemper
Researchers claim that ferrets are not susceptible to feline distemper. There are, however, reliable reports to the contrary. Consequently, the decision to vaccinate ferrets against this disease is an option for each ferret owner.
Rabies
Ferrets are highly susceptible to rabies and can transmit the virus. A rabies vaccine is now available for use in ferrets. Ferrets 3 months of age or older should be vaccinated, with annual boosters thereafter.
Other Diseases
Ferrets are not susceptible to viruses that commonly produce upper respiratory disease in domestic cats, nor are they susceptible to canine hepatitis. A few cases of lymphoma and lymph sarcoma (cancer have occurred in ferrets. Some of these ferrets tested positive for feline leukemia virus, while others tested negative. Though a cause and effect relationship cannot be proven by such a small number of cases, the possibility exists that ferrets may become infected with feline leukemia virus. Cancer can be one possible result of an infection. Some researchers believe that a virus or viruses specific may cause leukemia and related diseases among ferrets to ferrets.
Influenza: It is interesting to note that ferrets are susceptible to infection with several strains of human influenza virus. Signs of this illness may mimic those of canine distemper (listlessness, fever, in appetence, sneezing, nasal discharge, etc.). Unlike distemper, however, influenza usually passes within 5 days of the onset of illness, and ferrets recover. Treatment with a specific anti-influenza-A drug may be recommended. Such treatment is not recommended if bacterial infection complicates the influenza infection.
Parasitism: Most of the external parasites of domestic dogs and cats (fleas, mange mites, ear mites, etc.) can cause disease in ferrets. Less is known about the ferret's susceptibility to the more common internal parasites (roundworms, etc.) of dogs and cats. Protozoan parasites, also shared by dogs and cats (especially Giardia and Coccidia), can cause intestinal disease among ferrets. Your veterinarian should check for such parasites with periodic fecal examinations.
Ringworm: Ringworm (a fungal disease of the skin similar to athlete's foot) has been reported in young ferrets and may be transmitted by infected cats. As a rule of thumb, products manufactured and intended for use in and on cats (dewormers, flea products, ringworm medications, etc.) are safe and suitable for use in and on ferrets, with one exception: FLEA COLLARS SHOULD NEVER BY USED ON FERRETS.
Heartworm Disease: Ferrets are susceptible to Heartworm disease, a mosquito-transmitted illness seen mostly in dogs. Ferret owners must carefully consider the pros and cons of preventive therapy for this disease. Some ferrets may have adverse reactions to the drug used for Heartworm prevention. Further, the average ferret is very unlikely to be bitten by an infected mosquito unless it lives in an area of heavy Heartworm infection and is often exposed to mosquitoes.
Bacterial Infections: Various bacteria can produce a variety of diseases in ferrets, including botulism, tuberculosis, dysentery and abscesses and infections caused by bite wounds and other injuries.
Heat Stroke: Ferrets lack sweat glands and are somewhat compromised in their ability to maintain normal body temperature in extremely warm environmental temperatures. If the temperature rises above 90 F, and water is not available to ferrets, heat prostration is likely and death quite possible. Providing ample shade and spraying your ferret on hot days will help reduce the likelihood of this problem.
Urinary Stones: Urinary stones, either within the kidneys or urinary bladder, may cause serious problems in ferrets. Both sexes seem to be affected equally. Signs of urinary stones include blood in the urine, inability to urinate, a swollen and painful abdomen, vomiting, listlessness and in appetence.
Cardiomyopathy: Cardiomyopathy is a condition of the heart muscle seen in dogs, cats and ferrets. Most affected ferrets are males over 3 years of age. The cause for this condition is unknown. The muscle walls of the heart become thickened reducing the ability of the heart to pump adequate quantities of blood to the rest of the body.
Cardiomyopathy is diagnosed using chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram (EKG), and echocardiography. All ferrets older than 3 years should have an EKG to screen for this disease.
Miscellaneous Problems: Tumors cause persistently low blood sugar levels, which produce weakness, depression, fainting spell, changes in behavior and convulsions.
Last but not least ferrets' nails cam become extremely sharp and should be trimmed periodically. The method used and guidelines followed are identical to those used in trimming the nails of a dog or a cat. Ferrets should not be de-clawed.
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