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Ferrets
Rabbits, Rodents and Ferrets Lectures 1-6
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Ferrets are: | Carnivores |
| What family do ferrets belong to? Who are their closest relatives? | Mustelidae: weasels, otters, badgers, mink, wolverines |
| Who is the largest commercial breeder of ferrets and what is included when they are sold? | Marshal Farms, descent, spay/neuter, distemper vx (usually), and ear tattoo (L ear, 2 dots) |
| Where is the heart located in the ferret? | More caudal that you would expect? |
| Do ferrets have a SHORT or LONG GI tract? | SHORT --- GI transit approx 4h |
| Why do ferrets stink? | Anal sacs usually removed by breeder, but sebaceious glands are responsible for most of the smell |
| What are male and female ferrets called? | Males: Hob, Females: Jill |
| How long is ferret gestation, age of sexual maturity, and avg litter size? | gestation: 41-43d, sexual maturity: 4-8months, litter size: 1-18 kits (6 avg) |
| Ferret husbandy and nutrition: | multi-level cage, can live in groups, don't let loose unattended, litter trained (in corners usually), commercial ferret diet or high protein kitten food |
| How do you restrain a ferret? | minimal, scruffing, stretching, sweet distraction |
| Life span of a ferret: | 6-12y |
| PE on a ferret: | Normal temp: 100-104, HR 180-250, RR 33-36, Blood Volume 60-80mL (8% BW), urine pH 6.5-7.5 |
| Vaccines: | Canine Distemper: use galaxy-D, fervac, or recombinant merial (not the dog MLV) Rabies: Imrab-3, use once a year |
| T or F, ferrets are prone to vx reactions: | TRUE |
| What HW preventative should be used? | Avermectin - follow cat doses |
| Are GI parasites a concern with ferrets? | worms are rare, but coccidia, giardia, and crytpo possible --- parasite prev. with cat dosages and drugs |
| What flew and ear mite preventative should you use? | Flea: imidacloprild, fipronel, selamectin Ear mites: tresaderm, ivermectin, selamectin |
| Can ferrets get mange? | yes, demodex and scabies |
| What dental concerns should you have for ferrets? | periodontal disease and oral FB |
| Where should you collect blood? | superficially at manubrium --- red top for syrum, purple top for CBC |
| What is different with a ferrets creatinine? | A narrow normal range, and does not rise much with renal disase |
| Are unmatched blood transfusions safe in ferrets? | Yes -- at least 1-3, because apparently they lack blood groups |
| What is the incidence of megaesophagus in ferrets? | occurs rarely, usually acquired in older ferrets, presents with regurgitation and coughing, diagnosed radiographically (with contrast) |
| What are clinical signs seen in a ferret associated with GI disease? | Bruxism (teeth grinding) associated with abdominal pain, Nausea associated with drooling, pawing at the mouth, grinding teeth, and abnormal stools may be seen |
| What is the most important cause of gastritis in ferrets, what are the CS, and how do you dx and tx? | Helicobacter mustelae, CS: vomiting/diarrhea, melena, weight loss, Dx: stomach biopsy or improvement with tx, Tx: (original triple tx) amoxicillin, metronidazole, bismuth subsalicyate, and a bland diet |
| What GI disease may ferrets experience caused by a foreign body, pyloric adenocarcinoma, or a dietary issue? | Pyloric Obstruction or Gastric Bloat |
| Is bloat common in ferrets? | No, it is rare |
| What is the most important GI disease in ferrets? CS, Dx, Tx: | Foreign Body!! CS: rare vomiting (unlike in puppies), lethargy (chronic), weight loss, Dx: palpate mass, radiographs, ultrasound, Tx: surgical removal ---- often considered possible obstruction FB because the clinical signs seem chronic |
| What GI disease occurring in ferrets has an unknown clause, CS including mucoid/green diarrhea, occasional vomiting, and weight loss, is often diagnosed with intestinal biopsy, and is treated with prednisone? | Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
| What GI disease in ferrets is usually associated with lawsonia intraceullaris? | Proliferative bowel disease |
| What are the CS, Dx, and Tx of proliferative bowel disease in ferrets? | CS: diarrhea (mucoid/green), thickened intestines, rectal prolapse, Dx: intestinal biopsy, Tx: chloramphenicol |
| What GI disease in ferrets is characterized by mucoid/green diarrhea, thickened, intestine, weight loss, and sometimes peripheral eosinophilia on CBC, is diagnosed with an intestinal biopsy, but is treated with prednisone and ivermectin? | Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis |
| Is salmonella common in ferrets? | No, it's rare and often associated with raw diets, often diagnosed with culture and treated supportively |
| What is "Green Slime Disease" in ferrets? | Coronavirus (Epizootic Catarrhal Enteritis) |
| What are CS of corona in ferrets? | Worse in adults, green mucoid diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, possible slight increase in liver enzymes, can be acute or chronic |
| What are 3 common characteristics of gastroenteritis in ferrets? | ALL common in young, ALL have similar CS, ALL require surgery and biopsy to diagnose |
| What cardiopulmonary diagnostics are used in ferrets? | radiographs, ultrasound, ECG |
| What are the 2 classic heart diseases in ferrets and which is more common? | Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Dilated cardiomyopathy (more common) |
| Do ferrets need taurine in their diet to prevent heart disease? | No evidence, but arginine deficiency has been reported |
| What heart disease in ferrets is becoming more and more common, and affects the middle aged? | Valvular heart disease |
| What are clinical signs of heartworms in ferrets? | pleural effusion, ascites, coughing, lethargy, sudden death ---- similar to cats |
| Can you treat heartworms in ferrets? | yes, diagnose with Ag snap test or ultrasound, treat with 2 doses of immiticide (may have a bad effect as in cats) or long term avermectins (more common choice), possibly doxycycline, no surgical removal |
| Do ferrets get bacterial pneumonia, if yes - what species? | Not commonly, strep, pseudomonas, klebsiella, bordetella, tx with supportive care and abx |
| What viral diseases are common in ferrets? | Influenza: very susceptible, used as model for human disease, CS identical to distemper, but self-limiting Canine Distemper: very susceptible to this paramyxovirus, CS similar to distemper in dogs, fatal Aleutian Mink Disease (Parvo) |
| What are the clinical signs of Aleutian Mink Disease in ferrets? | mild-chronic (2-4 yrs post infection), chronic wasting, anemia, neuro signs in the young, increased TP, most cases sub-clinical, secondary immune-complex deposition |
| What are the CS of influenza and distemper in ferrets? | BOTH: nasal and ocular discharge, sneezing, coughing, pyrexia Distemper: dermatitis, footpad hyperkeratosis, CNS |
| How do you diagnose aleutian mink disease in ferrets? | Decreased albumin, elevated gamma globulins >20%, counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CEP), ELISA, often dx of exclusion |
| What are ddx for aleutian mink disease in ferrets? | GI FB, Several GI diseases, lymphoma, insulinoma, lead toxicity, multiple myeloma |
| Can the canine parvovirus test detect aleutian mink disease? | NO |
| Can ferrets contract feline panleukopenia? | NO |
| How many types of non-endocrine neoplasia effect ferrets? | Over 80, they are tumor magnets! |
| What is the most important non-endocrine neoplasia in ferrets? | Lymphoma, 2 types: lymphoblastic (previously juvenile form) and lymphocytic (previous adult form) |
| What are the characteristics of lymphoblastic lymphoma in ferrets? | More common in young, infiltration of visceral organs, non specficic signs, death (<1 yr old), mediastinal mass w/ pleural effusion, enlarged liver and spleen, intestinal and bone marrow infiltration, dx with lymphocytes >3500, rads, ultrasound, biopsy |
| What are characteristics of lymphocytic lymphoma in ferrets? | Usually older ferrets, enlarged LN, wasting, nonspecific signs, more similar to the slow growing localized lymphoma in dogs, dx with biopsy |
| How do you treat lymphoma in ferrets? | Vincristine, cyclophosphamide, prednisone |
| Name two benign tumors of ferrets: | Mast cell tumors, sebaceous epitheliomas |
| Where do ferrets usually get chordoma and what are they associated with? | Tails and Skulls, usually associated with Trauma --- also benign, but can be locally invasive |
| Describe Disseminated Idiopathic Myofasciitis in ferrets | Affects 1-2yr olds, CS: FEVER, PAIN, lethargy, recumbency, vomiting, tachycardia, etc., mild to marked neutrophilic leukocytosis, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglycemia, and occasional others, white streaks in muscles, muscle wasting/disappearing |
| What is the most characteristic lesion of disseminated idiopathic myofasciitis in ferrets? | Thickened esophagus |
| What may cause disseminated idiopathic myofasciitis in ferrets? | Delayed vaccine reaction |
| What is Ferret Infectious Peritonitis? | A unique coronavirus which causes epizootic catarrhal enteritis and a dry form similar to cat FIP, CS: anorexia, WL, diarrhea, large masses |
| Can Ab to feline infectious peritonitis be used to diagnose ferret infectious peritonitis? | Possibly |
| What are the overall most important diseases in ferrets? | Endocrine diseases: hyperadrenocorticism (not cushings), insulinoma, hyperestrogenism, ovarian remnant |
| Do ferrets get cushings disease? | NO --- they do get hyperadrenocorticism due to elevated androgens and 17-hydroxyprogesterone, NOT elevated plasma cortisol as in dogs |
| What are the three types of adrenal disease in ferrets? | Adrenocortical hyperplasia, adrenocortical adenoma, adrenocortical carcinoma |
| Do adrenal tumors metastasize in ferrets? | Not usually to other organs; however, often bilateral |
| What predilections are present in ferret hyperadrenocorticism? | 3-4 years after gonadectomy, no sex predilection, no predilection to L or R side, often bilateral |
| What are the clinical signs of hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets? | alopecia, pruritus, females: swollen vulva males: urinary blockage caused by enlarged prostate, squamous metaplasia, bladder that can be manually expressed |
| What are the lab findings associated with hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets? | NORMAL CBC and Chem, but several steroid hormone precursors elevated (androstenedione, dehydroepiandosterone, estradiol, 17-OH hydroxypgrosterone |
| How do you diagnose hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets? | Ultrasound - measurements of adrenals ACTH stim, Dex suppression NOT diagnostic Urine cortisol: creatinine not specific Radiographs - non diagnostic |
| How do you treat hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets? | Leuprolide acetate (Depo lupron) - synthetic GnRH, does not affect tumor but stops the stimulation to treat clinical signs NOT Mitotate: kills the adrenals MAYBE Bicalutamide (Casodex): androgen receptor blocker Anastrozole (Arimidex): blocks estr |
| What is Suprelorin? | a deslorelin acetate implant -- long term treatment for hyperadrocorticism in ferrets |
| Medical vs. surgical intervention for hyperadrenocorticism: | Medical: bilateral, older age, recurrence, prior to surgery Surgical: young, first treatment |
| How common are Insulinomas in ferrets? | Very --- nearly as prevalent as hyperadrenocorticism, sometimes concurrently |
| What is the signalment for insulinomas in ferrets? | >3 years old, slow onset, no sex predilection |
| What are the CS of insulinomas in ferrets? | lethargy (95%), weakness, difficulty arousing from sleep, ptyalism, pawing at the mouth, weight loss, hind-limb ataxia |
| How do you dx insulinomas in ferrets? | Presumptive: <60-70mg/dl blood glucose along with CS Other lab dx: CBC/Chem, rads, normal, Insulin levels above 250-300 pmol/L Ultrasound |
| How do you treat insulinomas in ferrets? | Symptomatically (small frequent meals + karo syrup or nutrical), medically (diazoxide + prednisone), surgical excision (excise nodules, maintain on 2.5% dex, post-op pancreatitis rare, palliative) |
| Describe the female reproductive cycle in ferrets | Seasonally polyestrous, induced ovulators, mating causes ovulation w/in 30-40h, estrus continues if not bred, chronically high estrogen level suppresses bone marrow --> death |
| What are the clinical signs of hyperestrogenism in ferrets? | swollen vulva, weakness, anorexia, weight loss, bilaterally symmetrical alopecia, pale mucous membranes (ANEMIA) |
| How do you determine the severity of hyperestrogenism in ferrets? | PCV >20% = fair to good px PCV 14-19% = guarded px PCV <14% = poor px |
| How do you treat hyperestrogenism in ferrets? | supportive care, blood transfusion, reduce serum estrogen levels (OHE, hcG or GnRH to induce ovulation, mate to vasectomized male) |
| What other diagnosis presents exactly like hyperestrogenism in a spayed female or hyperadrenocorticism in ferrets? | Ovarian remnant |
| How do you diagnose an ovarian remnant? | Test treatment with hcG or GnRH, then exploratory surgery - inspect ovarian stumps at the caudolateral pole of each kidney |
| What miscellaneous urogenital diseases do ferrets experience? | renal failure, hydronephrosis, cystitis, TCC |
| What time of urolith usually affects ferrets? CS, Dx, Tx: | Struvite CS: dysuria, hematuria, painful urination Dx: CS< palpation, radiography Tx: catheterization (3fr + magnifying loops), cystotomy, PU |
| Why are urolithiasis less common in ferrets now-a-days? | They are no longer fed dog food |
| What are common surgeries in ferrets? | exploratory laparotomy, adrenal gland neoplasia, prostatic cysts, pancreatic B cell tumors, GI FB |
| What is important for ferrets pre-op? | Stabilization!, Fast for NO MORE than 4 hours, pain meds! Butorphanol is a great anesthetic choice |
| What instruments are important for soft tissue sx in ferrets? | magnification, mosquito forceps, fine toothed forceps, castroviejo needle holders, curved iris scissors, baby balfour retractors, hemoclips |
| When doing an exploratory laparotomy in ferrets - what organs should you examine? | Adrenals, liver, LNs, pancreas, kidneys, spleen |
| Where are the adrenals located in ferrets? | L: craniomedial to the kidneys, R: beneath caudate liver lobe, close to both vena cava and hepatorenal ligament often buried in fat, usually 2-3mm wide and 7-8mm long, light pink and homogenous |
| How should you remove an adrenal in a ferret? | Using hemoclips -- not cryo or laser surgery, also use debakey clamps if near vena cava ---- known when to refer |
| Should you use dexamethasone sodium phosphate when removing both adrenals in ferrets? | If the ferret is lethargic or there are electrolyte abnormalities |
| What are the complications of adrenal surgery in ferrets? | life threatening vena cava bleeding, recurrence of adrenal dz (contralateral gland or diseased gland not entirely removed) |
| Should you take about both adrenals in a sick ferret? | Yes --- though literature says 1 1/2 |
| When are prostatic cysts common in ferrets? | With adrenal gland neoplasia |
| Describe pancreatic anatomy in a ferret | V shaped, R and L limbs + body, common pancreatic duct in body |
| How do you do surgical pancreatic excisions in ferrets? | Remove single, multiple or diffuse nodules (nodulectomy or pancreatectomy -- ligate pancreatic tissue), take concurrent liver biopsy, maintain on 2.5% dex during surgery, post-op pancreatitis rare, warn that this is a palliative procedure |
| Post-op pancreatic surgery care in ferrets | IV dextrose, small frequent meals, blood glucose levels q 12-24h, fasting blood glucose every 1-3 months Possible medical management: prednisone and diazoxide |
| How do you diagnose a GI foreign body in a ferret? | palpation, radiographs (ileus, gas filled stomach), contrast, ultrasound |
| What do ferrets eat that become FBs? | small foam objects, pencil erasers, cloth - usually partial obstruction |
| Describe GI surgery in ferrets | Enterotomy: incision at antimesenteric border - longitudinally, close transversely Gastrotomy - milk out FB, Two-layer closure |
| True or False, Splenomegaly is common and benign in ferrets | TRUE >2 years old |
| Primary causes of spleen disease in ferrets | lymphoma, metastatic beta cell tumor, metastatic adrenal dz, cardiomyopathy, aleutian disease, eosinophilic gastritis |
| What surgeries are performed in ferrets pertaining to the spleen? | percutaneous biopsy and splenectomy |
| How many lobes in a ferret's liver? | 6 |
| Why explore the liver in a ferret? | lymphoma, hepatic lipidosis, met. pancreatic B cell tumors |
| What type of liver biopsy should be done in ferrets? | transfixation suture (wedge biopsy) - just one of many ways text describes a punch biopsy -- but concern about bleeding |
| What are the indications for a cystotomy in ferrets? | urolithiasis, urinary catheter placement |
| A perineal urethrostomy in a ferret should be done similarly to one species? | cat --- only smaller |
| When do you neuter a ferret? What else must be done? | 5-6 weeks of age, Tattoo |
| When do you do an OHE in a ferret? | To prevent breeding, to prevent or treat hyperestrogenemia |
| How do you perform an OHE in a ferret? | similar to a cat, large fat pads around ovaries, the suspensory ligament is slack |
| How do you perform a castration in a ferret? | scrotal sac ventral to the anus, similar to a cat neuter, intact male ferrets have a pungent odor |
| Anal gland resection in ferrets: | paired anal glands, usually removed at farms, if needed: use gentle traction, blunt dissection from the anal sphinchter muscles possible complications: rectal prolapse, fecal incontinence, fistulous tracts if part of tract remains |
| What oral surgery is done in ferrets? | removing a salivary mucocele - facial swelling w/ a clear cyst, lance and establish drainage in the mouth |
Created by:
Sara2420
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