Ferrets Flashcards
Ferrets are in the mammalia class, and Carnivora order
What does this tell us?
They are obligate carnivores- they must eat meat!
Describe the ferret Gi tract
The ferret has deciduous teeth at 3-4weeks and permanents at 50-74 days
They have 5 pairs of salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, sublingual, zygomatic, molar). There is no amylase in the P or SM. These salivary glands are supplied by the PNS
They have no gastro oesphageal sphincter so they CAN vomit
They have a simple stomach, which they can over gorge holds 50ml
You should starve them for a short period ONLY, as they have a high MR, and you don’t want them to be hypoglycaemic
The end of the SI/start of colon can only be identified because anastomoses of blood vessels
They have no caecum, appendix, ileocolic junction
What is the dental formula of a ferret?
I3/3, C1/1, P3/3, M1/2
Describe the respiratory tract of a ferret
They can breathe through their nose and mouth unlike small Furries which are obligate nasal breathers
They have a large lung volume for their body size (they have a narrow cavity and a narrow thoracic inlet)
This means that if anything goes wrong in this area respiratory function can be effected
They have 2 lobes on the left compared to rodents who have 1
They also have 4 lobes on the right
Describe ferret integument
They moult twice yearly
They have very tough skin at the neck which protects them when fighting
They have NO sweat glands- this is why they’re suseptible to heat stress
They have sebaceous glands all over their body
They turn yellowish due to an increase in sebaceous gland oily secretion during their season
They have well developed AGs (it’s illegal to remove these in UK)
Describe the ferrets cardiovascular system
They have a fast HR (200-300bpm) which can be heard between the 6-8th ribs. This is not an accurate measure of cardiac output so urinary output is measured instead
Blood volume= 5-7% of the BW
A high PCV is normal in ferrets (around 61- if this was a dog you would think they are dehydrated)
They don’t require a cross match for a transfusion (dogs require one the second time they are transfused)
You can get a blood sample from jugular, Cephalic or tail vein
They have a 4 chambered hearts like all mammals!! (Remember mammalia/carnivora)
Describe the ferrets eye
They are nocturnal animals and therefore see well I’m dim light.
They see movement rather than images.
They have a very well developed nicitating membrane
They have a horizontal pupil slit (cf to vertical in cats)
The photoperiod is VERY important in a ferret- light is perceived through the eye and this creates an endocrine signal that modulates physiological function
What happens to melatonin ALWAYS with increasing daylight
Inc daylight = dec melatonin
What are the effects of increased melatonin?
It depends on whether animals are short or long day breeders.
Inc melatonin, occurs with dec daylight, and therefore GNRH will increase in short day breeders e.g. Ewe but will not in long day breeders e.g. Mares
Describe the ferrets repro tract
They have a bicornate uterus like dogs and cats (remember as they are mammals)
They reach puberty at 6-9 months, they are seasonal, monoestrus, reflec ovulaters and have 1 litter per year
There gestation length is 42 days and there young are altricial (require care)
How could you sex a ferret?
Males are much bigger
And genitals can be seen clearly
Why are ferrets suseptible to post oestrus anaemia
If ferrets are not mated at oestrus, they do not ovulate, as they are reflex ovulaters
This causes an inc in GnRH therefore and inc in LH and oestrogen causing hyperoestrogenism
Prolonged exposure to oestrogen for a prolonged time, effects haemopoetic tissues and causes “oestrogen induced anaemia” due to bone marrow depression
Why are ferrets suspectible to adrenal disease
If neutered too early, the napegative feedback system between oestrogen and GNRH has not had enough time to become established.
This causes an inc in GNRH/LH but also an inc in adrenal gland stimulation
This stimulation causes hyperplasia and neoplasia
Altering photoperiod can also cause this. They are nocturnal animals, An inc daylight, decreasing melatonin, increases GnRH/LH/adrenal gland stimulation.
How does hyperadrenocortism differ in ferrets and dogs?
In dogs it’s due to an overproduction of cortisol
In ferrets it’s due to the overproduction of sex hormones
