It is important to have rabbits spayed and castrated as it can reduce aggression and spraying behaviors. Rabbits can also develop hairballs that can block the intestines. Rabbits have teeth that continue to grow throughout their life so they need to chew on a hard substance like wood to keep the teeth from becoming overgrown. Alfalfa based hay can lead to bladder stones due to the higher calcium content. Rabbits need diets high in fiber and roughage to maintain gastrointestinal health. Yearly exams can help with early detection facilitating easier treatment. There are a number of other conditions that are common in ferrets which include insulinoma (tumor of the pancreas that causes low blood sugar), heart disease, lymphoma, and skin growths. This is a viable option when an inoperable tumor exists or age, concurrent disease, or finances make surgery impossible. This synthetic “hormone” only reduces the clinical signs but does nothing to keep a tumor from growing. The alternative treatment is a deslorelin implant that usually lasts 12-18 months. The only treatment option that will completely cure adrenal disease is surgery to remove the affected adrenal gland but ferrets will often develop disease in the other gland. If left untreated, the affected ferret will slowly succumb to the disease. Signs of adrenal disease include hair loss, extreme itchiness, aggression, a swollen vulva in females, and trouble urinating in males. Monthly heartworm medications are available and come in a meat chew or topical liquid.Īdrenal gland disease is the most common ailment in ferrets with almost 85% of ferrets developing the condition. Like dogs and cats, ferrets are susceptible to heartworms. Rabies is another vaccination recommended for ferrets but there is only one approved rabies vaccine for use in ferrets. Adult ferrets should have a distemper titer performed before vaccinating to minimize the chance for a vaccine reaction, which are fairly common. Young ferrets need to have a series of vaccines to protect them properly. Castrating a male ferret can help eliminate aggression and decrease their musky odor.įerrets are highly susceptible to canine distemper and the disease is 100% fatal. If a female ferret is not spayed, there are some very serious health consequences that could lead to death. Most pet ferrets available today are already altered. There are a number of high quality ferret diets available on the market today. Jones is knowledgeable in rat medicine and surgery as well as adept at sugar glider castrations.įerrets have special dietary needs including high protein and fat. She also has worked with rabbits and guinea pigs. Jones has extensive experience with ferrets both medically and personally.
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