Ferrets

Question 1

What’s unique about the adult ferret skull

Answer 1

Has no suture lines

Question 2

Right adrenal placement

Answer 2

Adhered to wall of CVC

Question 3

Ovulation of ferrets

Answer 3

Induced ovulators, seasonally polyestrous

Question 4

How soon following copulation does ovulation occur?

Answer 4

30-40hours

Question 5

how high in protein should ferret diet be?

Answer 5

30-40%

Question 6

Why isn’t cat chow appropriate for cats?

Answer 6

It’s too high in starch/carb

Question 7

Which vaccine can be fatal in ferrets?

Answer 7

Canine distemper

Question 8

Canine distemper falls into which family of viruses?

Answer 8

Paramyxoviridae

Question 9

Clinical course of distemper

Answer 9

catarrhal phase and a CNS phase

Catarrhal/viremic phase- 7-10 days post-infection: anorexia, pyrexia, photosensitivity, serous nasal d/c
Secondary viremia: generalized erythema, scaling, pruritic rash (starts from chin and spreads); severe mucopurulent oculonasal d/c and pneumonia are common +/- footpad hyperkeratosis
CNS: ataxia, tremors, paralysis
May or may not be preceded by catarrhal phase
Death in 12-16 days with ferret strains or up to 35 days with canine strains
100% mortality

Question 10

Which human influenza virus is more pathogenic to ferrets - A or B?

Answer 10

A

Pathogenicity of B is low

Question 11

Mortality of human influenza

Answer 11

low

Question 12

Differences between distemper and flu

Answer 12

Dermatitis, footpad hyperkeratosis, central signs in distemper. Distemper has 100% mortality

Question 13

C/S of Aleutian disease

Answer 13

Cachexia, melena, ataxia, paralysis, tremors, convulsions

Question 14

Dx of Aleutian disease (gammaglobulins)

Answer 14

gammaglobulins elevated to >20% of TP

Question 15

Which disease is caused by Ferret enteric coronavirus? (FECV)

Answer 15

Epizootic catarrhal enteritis

Question 16

C/S of epizootic catarrhal enteritis

Answer 16

Acute: lethargy, decreased appetite, vomiting, green watery mucoid diarrhea and dehydration
Chronic: feces appear grainy (looks like bird seeds)
High morbidity, low mortality
Older animals more severely affected

Question 17

Which disease is caused by ferret systemic coronavirus (FSCV)?

Answer 17

Ferret systemic cornaviral disease (similar to dry form of FIP)

Question 18

C/S of FSCV

Answer 18

nonspecific
Diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, decreased appetite, weight loss
May present with CNS signs: paresis, ataxia, tremors, seizures, head tilt

Question 19

Nx findings of FSCV

Answer 19

Nodules/plaques covering serosal surfaces, esp intestinal serosa and mesentery
Severe pyogranulomatous inflammation, often localized around vessels

Question 20

c/s of Helicobacter mustelae

Answer 20

usually none. can see Gi ulcers, wt loss

Question 21

C/S of lawsonia intracellularis

Answer 21

mucoid hemorrhagic diarrhea (intermittent > 6 wks), anorexia, weight loss, ataxia, muscle tremors, rectal prolapse

Question 22

Which mite causes ulcerative lesions on the face?

Answer 22

Lynsacarus mustelae

Question 23

Heartworm disease in ferrets

Answer 23

Susceptibility similar to dogs, clinical disease similar to that of cats

Question 24

Blastomyces in ferrets

Answer 24

Cutaneous and systemic forms (systemic usually affects the lungs)

Question 25

Cryptococcus neoformans in ferrets

Answer 25

Immunosuppresion may play a role; indoor-housed ferrets at low risk meningoencephalitis, posterior paralysis, listlessness, acute death white nodules on intestinal serosa, diffuse lymphocytic meningeal infiltrate

Question 26

Histoplasma in ferrets

Answer 26

abdominal pain, splenomegaly, subnormal temperature, subcutaneous nodules

Question 27

Pneumocystic carinii in ferrets

Answer 27

Pneumonia in immunosuppressed ferrets

Question 28

Vitamin E deficiency c/s

Answer 28

Steatitis, yellow fat disease

Question 29

C/S of arginine deficiency

Answer 29

Young ferrets only, adults not affected. Hyperammonemia and encephalopathy after single deficient feeding

Question 30

Zinc toxicity cause

Answer 30

Accidental contamination or experimental (galvanized steel caging)

Question 31

c/s of zinc toxicity

Answer 31

nephrotoxicity and anemia | large pale kidneys with collapsed glomeruli, dilated tubules and interstitial fibrosis

Question 32

Pregnancy toxemia is seem primarily in which animals?

Answer 32

Primiparous jills with large litters

Question 33

Pathogenesis of pregnancy toxemia

Answer 33

Decreased nutrition in late pregnancy results in negative energy balance; hyperlipidemia, hypoglycemia, ketosis, and hepatic lipidosis Decreased intake/appetite or not enough room in abdomen for kits and full stomach

Question 34

What happens if female ferrets aren't bred?

Answer 34

Remain in persistent estrus - hyperestrogenism

Question 35

Insulinoma is a tumor of which cells?

Answer 35

Functional tumor of B cells - not responsive to inhibitory stimuli

Question 36

c/s of insulinoma

Answer 36

weakness, lethargy, decreased appetite, increased sleeping, ataxia, intermittent posterior paresis, and occasional disorientation Can present in hypoglycemic crisis or with severe signs (ptyalism, “star gazing”, pawing at the mouth, “vomiting”, collapse, and seizures…though seizures aren’t as common in ferrets as dogs with insulinomas)

Question 37

BG in ferrets with insulinoma

Answer 37

<60-70

Question 38

Histo findings for insulinoma

Answer 38

Adenoma or adenocarcinoma

Question 39

How do glucocorticoids treat insulinoma?

Answer 39

increase gluconeogenesis, decrease glucose uptake by peripheral tissues and inhibit insulin binding to receptor

Question 40

How does diazoxide treat insulinoma?

Answer 40

inhibits pancreatic insulin secretion by decreasing the intracellular release of iCa  prevents release of insulin from granules

Question 41

Adrenal neoplasia is tumor of which layer?

Answer 41

Regicular layer

Question 42

Which adrenal is more affected?

Answer 42

L

Question 43

Adrenal tumor is more common in which subset of ferrets?

Answer 43

Sterilized ferrets

Question 44

C/S of Adrenal tumor

Answer 44

weight loss, bilateral alopecia and vulvar enlargement in females; males may have urinary blockage

Question 45

Medical treatment of adrenal tumor (4)

Answer 45

Leuprolide - desensitizes GnRH receptors at the pituitary to downregulate FSH and LH release Deslorelin implants – stimulates LH and FSH secretion that desentitizes the pituitary by downregulating GnRH receptors, which stops the release of gonadotropins Melatonin implant- directly inhibits GnRH release and therefore suppresses LH and FSH production SQ implant lasts 3 months U/S guided alcohol injection into diseased gland causing gland to shrink

Question 46

Most common musculoskeletal tumor of ferrets

Answer 46

Chordoma

Question 47

Disseminated idiopathic myofasciitis signalment

Answer 47

Young ferrets <18 months

Question 48

C/S of DIM

Answer 48

rapid onset of fever, lethargy, paresis and dehydration are most consistent signs inflammation of muscle

Question 49

Gross lesions of DIM

Answer 49

red and white mottling of the esophagus; white streaks in the diaphragm, lumbar, and leg muscles; and marked atrophy of diaphragm and skeletal muscle in advanced cases; lympho- splenomegaly

Question 50

Histo lesions of DIM

Answer 50

suppurative pyogranulomatous inflammation in skeletal muscle and fascia; myeloid hyperplasia