Parasites

Ear Mites

Ear mites are very common in ferrets, unfortunately. They are not life threatening but they are definitely a nuisance. Ear mites are microscopic and when in a ferret's ears, they look like appear as a dark reddish-brown to black discharge. Simple cleaning will not get rid of ear mites. There are several different products on the market for ear mites that your vet will recommend. Do not buy any ear mite remedies over the counter. Be sure to get them the medicine from your vet so you know it's effective and safe for your ferret.

If you have one ferret that is diagnosed as having ear mites, chances are they all do. Your best bet is to treat them all.

Fleas

Fleas are another common parasite found on ferrets. They are easy to catch and difficult to get rid of. Once they find a host to provide their nourishment, they take up residence in your ferret's bedding, the carpet, your furniture, and any other place where they can hide and still have access to their food supply - you and your pets. You may see the fleas in your home or on your pet, but you may also be alerted to their presence by the 'flea dirt' or reddish brown specks on your pet or his bedding. A ferret with fleas may itch more than normal.

If you find fleas on your ferret, it is important to get them taken care of quickly. An untreated flea infestation can cause your ferret to become anemic and even die. It is important not to use flea products that are labeled for other animals. Your best bet is to contact your veterinarian and get flea medication from him. Some of the new flea medicines on the market take only one drop of application and will kill all fleas and their eggs living in the vicinity. If you have other pets, you will have to treat all of your pets at the same time in order to completely rid your house of fleas. Whatever product you use , you will most likely have to repeat it 10 days to a month later (depending on treatment) to treat any eggs that you didn't kill the first time around.

Treating the animals is not the end. You must also clean the cage and bedding, as well as the rest of your house. Usually the complete sanitization of the cage and vacuuming of the rest of the carpets and furniture will adequately deal with the problem. If you have a particularly bad infestation or think your house will require further methods (i.e. flea bombs and the like) consult with your veterinarian about the best products to use as some can leave residue that is not safe for ferrets or other animals .

Ticks

Ticks are parasites that look like little crabs. As we have all become far too aware of, ticks can carry Lyme Disease so it is important to remove the tick as quickly as possible. Ticks are difficult to find on your ferret, but easy to remove if done properly. Grasp the tick as close to ferret's skin as possible with a pair of tweezers. Hold the tick firmly with the tweezers and gently pull the tick from the skin being careful to remove all of the mouth parts. Remove any remaining mouth pieces as gently as possible being careful not to scrape around the site. If the mouth pieces do not come out easily, LEAVE THEM. Watch for a secondary infection, but the parts should come out as the skin sloughs off. If there is any sign of infection, contact your vet immediately.

Ticks, once removed, can be hard to kill. If you are concerned about Lyme Disease, you should place the tick in a covered jar with alcohol and a label that tells the date, the body location where the tick was attached, and the place that you think the tick came from. Wipe the area with an antiseptic and contact your veterinarian to discuss having the tick tested and what symptoms if any to watch for.

Coccidia

Coccidia are microscopic protozoans that live and reproduce in the host's intestines. These parasites are transmitted through contact with an infected animal's feces and is are highly contagious, especially among the young, the old, the ill and animals who are stressed . The most common symptom of coccidiosis is diarrhea, which may range from mild to severe. Blood and mucus may even be present in very severe and advanced cases. Additionally, your ferret may vomit, lose their appetite and or become dehydrated. It is uncommon, but possible, for a ferret to die if these symptoms persist without veterinary attention. A microscopic fecal exam by your vet will confirm the presence of the coccidia oocysts and then treatment can begin. Treatment is generally either Albon (sulfadimethoxine) or Tribrissen (trimethoprim-sulfadiazine). These medicines do not kill the coccidia, but rather stop them from reproducing which causes these treatments to be slow acting. Because of this, care must be taken to complete the medical regimen as prescribed by your vet (as with any prescription) in order to prevent creating a treatment -resistant parasite. Additionally, strict health practices are needed to rid bedding, litter boxes, toys and the like of any fecal material. Most disinfectants do not work against coccidia, therefore steam cleaning, immersion in boiling water, a 10% ammonia or bleach solution for surfaces and bedding are suggested.

Heartworm

Fortunately, heartworm is not very common in ferrets, but they are still susceptible to it. Unlike other animals, it only takes one heartworm to kill a ferret. Heartworm is transported by infected mosquitoes. If your ferret has symptoms such as frequent coughing, difficulty breathing, fainting spells, an enlarged (fluid-filled) abdomen or lethargy, it is important to get them to the vet. Other symptoms of heartworm not as easily detectable are an enlarged heart, heart murmur or a muffled heartbeat. Heartworm can be detected using the SNAP test used for dogs. Unfortunately while a positive test is definitive a negative test does not necessarily mean that heartworms are not present. Because it only takes one or two worms to completely debilitate a ferret, there might not be baby worms in the bloodstream of a symptomatic ferret (which is what the test looks for). Cardiac ultrasound is more definitive, but not guaranteed, and can be done to see if there is evidence of worms in the heart.

Ferrets with heartworm(s) will die without treatment. Unfortunately, the treatment can also be lethal to your ferret. The survival rate for ferrets with heartworm that get proper treatment is approximately 65 percent.

Ringworm

Ringworm is caused not by a worm as the name implies but rather by a fungus. This fungus causes almost perfectly round patches of flaky or oozing skin to occur. Other symptoms include alopecia (hairloss), itching and thickened, red, crusty skin. The only positive way to identify if a skin irritation is ringworm is with a culture done by your vet of the effected skin and hair in the area. This fungus is highly contagious not just to your other ferrets but to other animals in your house and to you and your family, although the most susceptible include the young, old, and the ill (especially those who are immuno-supressed). Good hand washing practices may help prevent the spread of this fungus (wash for at least 30 seconds under warm water including under your nails using anti-bacterial soap). This condition is treatable with topical medications, shampoos and sometimes an oral medication. The only way to be really rid of the fungus and its spores (which may be lying in wait for up to 2 years) is to follow the vet's instructions exactly and to be sure to completely disinfect the entire area that may have been contaminated. It is suggested that surfaces and bedding be either steam cleaned, immersed in boiling water, or washed with a 10% ammonia or bleach solution or a fungicide.

Giardia

Giardia is a parasite that lives in the intestines. The ferret is infected when it ingests the protozoa in food or water contaminated with feces (contaminated water source) . Some signs that your ferret may have giardia is diarrhea, weight loss and mucousy poop. Giardia is not found in treated water systems, however, it may be found in well water or standing water. Your vet can prescribe medications to get rid of this nasty parasite.