Ferrets

Question 1

To what family do ferrets belong?

Answer 1

Mustelidae

Question 2

What is the scientific name of ferrets?

Answer 2

Mustela putorius furo

Question 3

Temperature and humidity ranges for ferrets?

Answer 3

39-64F (Poorly developed sweat glands so do not tolerate heat well)

40-65%

Question 4

Lighting for breeding ferrets

Answer 4

16:8

Question 5

Induced vs spontaneous ovulation? What season do they breed?

Answer 5

Induced
Seasonal, long day breeders

Question 6

How long after mating does ovulation occur?

Answer 6

30-40 hours

Question 7

Type of placentation

Answer 7

Zonary endothelialchorial

Question 8

Gestation length

Answer 8

41-42 days

Question 9

When do a kit’s eyes open, develop hearing and develop their deciduous teeth?

Answer 9

Deciduous teeth - 14 d
Hear - 32 d
Eyes open - 34 d

Question 10

When are kits weaned?

Answer 10

6 weeks

Question 11

How does C. perfringens present in ferrets?

Answer 11

Acute abdominal distension, dyspnea and cyanosis in weanlings

Question 12

Campylobacter jejuni

Answer 12

Self-limiting diarrhea in kits, anorexia, dehydration, tenesmus; can be cultured from asymptomatic animals

Question 13

Helicobacter mustelae

Answer 13

Chronic gastritis (model of human H. pylori gastritis) –> Asymptomatic or vomiting, melena (ulcers), weight loss. Gastric adenocarcinoma associated.

Can treat w/ triple therapy (amoxicillin, metronidazole, bismuth subsalicylate)

Question 14

Lawsonia intracellularis

Answer 14

Chronic diarrhea, lethargy, anorexia, weight loss +/- ataxia, muscle tremors (usually young)

Segmental thickening of colon, bacteria in apical epithelial cells w/ silver stain

Supportive care + chloramphenicol or metronidazole for 2 weeks

Question 15

Tuberculosis

Answer 15

Acid-fast rods

M. bovis - Disseminated disease, weight loss, anorexia, lethargy, death; miliary lesions in viscera (MLNs)

M. tuberculosis - Localized disease, few organisms observed

M. avium - Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, weight loss; pulmonary involvement and granulomatous enteritis

Question 16

Salmonella spp.

Answer 16

S. typhimuris - Conjunctivitis, rapid weight loss, tarry stool, temperature, pallor, gastric petechiae

S. dublin - Abortion, still births, necrotizing endometritis

Hemorrhagic GIT mucous, edematous villi, necrotic hepatosplenic foci, necrotizing endometritis +/- rupture

Question 17

When does mastitis usually occur? Treatment?

Answer 17

After parturition - 3 weeks of lactation

Broad spectrum abx for mom and kits, supplement kits with milk replacer; sx resection of affected glands in acute cases

Question 18

Canine distemper

Answer 18

-Paramyxovirus (enveloped, RNA)
-Fatal in ferrets!!
-Catarrhal phase 7-10 days (anorexia, pyrexia, photosensitivity, nasal discharge, ventral rash, pawpad hyperkeratosis –> CNS phase (tremors, paralysis) –> Death within 12-16 days for ferret strains or 35 days for dog strains
-MLV ferret vaccine

Question 19

Aleutian Disease

Answer 19

-Parvovirus (amdoparvovirus, DNA, non-enveloped)
-Ferrets infected as adults become PI but rarely develop dz (chronic progressive weight loss, cachexia, malaise and melena, neuro signs possible)
-Elevated gammaglobulins
-Disinfection with formalin, NaOH, phenolics
-Consistently see periportal lymphocytic infiltrates on path

Question 20

Influenza

Answer 20

-Orthomyxovirus (Enveloped, RNA)
-Transmission between ferrets and humans
-Anorexia, fever, sneezing, nasal d/c +/- conjunctivitis, photosensitivity and otitis
-Model for influenza infection

Question 21

Rabies

Answer 21

-Rhabdovirus (Lyssavirus, RNA, enveloped)
-Killed vx at 3 months, 1 year then annually (Do NOT use MLV)

Question 22

Rotavirus

Answer 22

-Non-enveloped, RNA
-Diarrhea in kits 1 day-6weeks old
-Jills develop immunity and pass on to subsequent litters

Question 23

Ferret enteric coronavirus/Epizootic catarrhal enteritis

Answer 23

-Alphacoronavirus (Enveloped, RNA)
-Green slime dz
-Often see in young animals being introduced to a colony of adults
-Lethargy, green mucoid diarrhea, vomiting
-Hallmark path = Lymphocytic enteritis with villous atrophy and necrosis and vacuolation of enterocytes at villous tips

Question 24

Ferret Systemic Coronaviral Disease

Answer 24

-Alphacoronavirus
-Similar to FIP in cats (dry form)
-Young animals (<1 year)
-Nonspecific clinical signs +/- neuro
-Nonregenerative anemia, hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, thrombocytopenia
-Hallmark path = Severe pyogranulomatous inflammation

Question 25

Coccidia

Answer 25

-Isospora laidlawi, Eimeria furonia and E. icidea -Usually subclinical but can see dz in young ferrets -Jejunum and ileum --> Villous and epithelial thickening, cysts within epithelium, inflammation -Treat ferrets with sulfadimethoxine or ponazuril and decontaminate w/ heat or ammmonium hydroxide

Question 26

Sarcoptes scabiei

Answer 26

-Generalized (intensely pruritic) or pedal form

Question 27

Demodex

Answer 27

-Pruritis, alopecia, orange skin discoloration on ventrum and behind ears -Deep skin scrape

Question 28

Ear mite

Answer 28

-Otodectes cynotis -Usually asymptomatic, but can see head shaking, itching, otitis interna -Direct life cycle, 3 weeks -Topical treatment with ivermectin or selamectin

Question 29

Pregnancy Toxemia

Answer 29

-Primiparous jills with large litters, fasting -Metabolic type -Melena, easily epilated hair, anorexia, lethargy, dystocia

Question 30

Hyperestrogenism

Answer 30

-If not bred, remain in estrus --> Bone marrow hypoplasia and anemia -Vulvar swelling, bilateral alopecia, depression, weight loss, mucopurulent vaginal d/c -Normocytic, normochromic anemia, coagulopathies, thrombocytopenia -Tx = hCG or GnRH to induce ovulation, breed, OHE or deslorelin implant (GnRH analog)

Question 31

Zinc toxicity

Answer 31

-Leaching of zinc from steam sterilized galvanized bowls -Enlarged, pale, soft kidneys, orange liver +/- gastric hemorrhage

Question 32

Most common neoplasia in ferrets?

Answer 32

Insulinomas

Question 33

Insulinoma

Answer 33

-Functional pancreatic islet cell tumor (most common tumor in ferrets) -Intermittent weight loss, vomiting, ataxia, lethargy, posterior paresis, splenomegaly, lymphocytosis, ptyalism -Hypoglycemia --> Tremors, disorientation, seizures -Tx = Sx removal or prednisone +/- diazoxide and frequent high protein meals

Question 34

Adrenal tumor

Answer 34

-2ng most common -Elevated sex steroids by zona reticularis --> Weight loss, bilateral alopecia, variable pruritis, vulvar swelling or prostatic changes -Tx = Monthly Lupron injections (GnRH superantagonist) or Deslorelin implant*

Question 35

Lymphoma

Answer 35

-More aggressive in ferrets <2 yo -Multicentric and GI forms most common

Question 36

Most common skin tumor in ferrets

Answer 36

Mast cell tumor

Question 37

Disseminated idiopathic myofasciitis

Answer 37

-<18 mo ferrets -Fever, paresis, inappetence +/- hind end pain, muscle atrophy, enlarged lymph nodes -All muscle types

Question 38

Why are repeated blood transfusions ok in ferrets?

Answer 38

No antibodies to erythrocyte antigens