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HEALTH CARE
FERRETS ARE TOUGH LITTLE ANIMALS
AND USUALLY IT IS NOT HARD TO KEEP THEM FIT AND HEALTHY
THE COMMON COLD
Ferrets can catch the human cold and flu so please be very careful about handling them if you have a cold yourself. It could be fatal to your pet.
DISTEMPER
Ferrets can catch canine distemper and some vets recommend vaccination.
HEAT
Ferrets do not sweat, nor do they have very efficient body cooling mechanisms so heat stroke is a danger. Heat exhaustion can occur in temperatures in excess of 80 degrees, not uncommon in a sunny patch of the garden. So keep the cage out of the hot sun, provide shade and lots of large shallow water bowls for paddling. If your ferret becomes overheated roll him in cool (not cold) water to revive him.
PARASITES
Check your ferrets regularly for fleas and ticks and ask your vet to prescribe a suitable remedy if necesssary.
EARS
Ears should be inspected regularly and gently cleansed of any deposit of brown wax. A small cotton bud or tissue dampened in an animal ear cleaning lotion and wiped across the inside of the ear is all that is needed. DO NOT PUSH COTTON BUDS INTO THE EARS.
CLAWS
Claws should be kept quite short to avoid catching on bedding or clothing. Remember that ferrets, unlike cats, cannot retract their claws. Most ferrets have pale claws so it is easy to see where the blood vessel is. You can use ordinary nail clippers to clip the claw, avoiding the blood vessel. IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT PLEASE ASK YOUR LOCAL VET TO DO THIS FOR YOU.
IF YOUR FERRET SEEMS POORLY PLEASE TAKE HIM TO YOUR VET QUICKLY
FERRETS GO DOWNHILL VERY RAPIDLY ONCE THEY ARE ILL. THERE IS OFTEN NO TIME TO "WAIT AND SEE".
(With thanks to Dr. June McNicholas for permission to reproduce text taken from an article written on behalf of the National Ferret Welfare Society)
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