Manitoba ferret association

Fur & Skin

Dry		Sleeping in litter; poor nutrition; age; general illness
Black Spots		Flea Dirt
Fur falling out		Seasonal coat change; poor nutrition; stress; flea allergy
Guard hair sparse		Regrowth of coat
Thinning		Age; unnatural light cycle; adrenal disease; in heat or rut
Pattern loss		Adrenal Disease
Graying		Natural silvering pattern; age
Flaking Skin		Flea dermatitis; poor nutrition; allergies; over-shampooing
Yellowed		Hepatitis
Reddened rough skin		Allergies; fleas; sunburn; bites from others
Pinched skin stays pinched		Dehydration
Wart like Growths		Skin Tumours
Dark brown or black moles		Ticks
Puffy inflamed areas		Abscess
Sore slow to heal		Diabetes; adrenal disease; cancer

Lungs

Coughing		Cold, heart disease; lymphosarcoma
Wheezing		Allergy; heart disease; pneumonia
Rapid breathing		Heat stroke; pain
Difficult breathing		Heart disease; pneumonia; lymphosarcoma; heartworm

Stomach / Spleen

Stomach distension		Intestinal blockage; heart disease; poison; internal tumor
Lopsided abdomen		Enlarged Spleen
Hard area along abdomen		Enlarged Spleen
Anorexia		Stomach or mouth ulcers; ECE

Urination / Defacation

Male "dribbling" or crying		Urinary tract blockage; bladder stones; kidney infection; adrenal disease
"Sand" in urine		Bladder stones
Heavy urination &/or excessive thirst		Diabetes; kidney infection
Inability to urinate		Kidney failure; blockage
Inability to defecate		Internal blockage
Diarrhea		Dairy products; food allergies; stress; coccidia; camphobacter
Green diarrhea		Upset stomach; stress; ECE
Dark, tarry stool		Too many raisins; bleeding
Blood in stool		Internal hemorrhage, cancer
Frabric or odd objects in stool		Eating fabric or toys
Frequent small stool		Poor rectal muscles
Protrusion from anus		Rectal Prolapse
Draining area near anus		Anal gland impaction

Reproductive Organs

Bleeding Penis		Caught on something
Growth on penis		Tumour
"Dragging" penis across things		Territorial marking; adrenal disease
Swollen vulva		In heat; leftover ovarian tissue; adrenal disease
Pus or discharge from vulva		Infection; adrenal disease

Question :
Why does my ferret stare into space a lot?
Answer :
This is a strong sign of insulinoma. This will occur as the glucose levels drop. If the levels get too low, a seizure could happen.

Question :
Why is my ferret wobbly on his feet?
Answer :
Hind end weakness is a strong sign of insulinoma. As the glucose values drop, it takes a toll on the ferret.

Continued on the Sickness Signs and Symptoms Part 3