Hairballs & Blockages

What is a hairball?

A hairball is defined as a small collection of hair or fur which is formed in the stomach of animals that is occasionally vomited up when it becomes too big.  Ferrets, along with rabbits and cows, are not able to regurgitate hairballs like cats can so it can be a life threatening situation. Usually during shedding season, the ferret would get a piece of hair stuck in their throat and make a nasty cough while trying to hack it out. That is not a hairball, that is just a piece of hair in their throat. 

How Serious is it?

When the hairball is left untreated, it can become a trichobezoar;  a mass of hair which is trapped in the gastrointestinal system – an extreme form of hairball. Since ferrets cannot vomit it the hairball up, a trichobezoar is most likely to form. The egg per week and its incredible Lecithin and Choline duo will help to smoothly move any ingested hair through the ferrets body, this will help prevent the hair from getting stuck and forming into one sticky situation of a Trichobezoar.  Please note that egg is not a treatment, it is a preventative and even though Trichobezoars are rare, they need veterinary assistance because they can be fatal if undetected.  Surgical intervention is often required.

There are also other ways to prevent the hairballs from forming.

1. Whole prey: Feeding adult whole prey helps by cleaning the insides and pushing the hair through the ferret, so it can also help to reduce the chance of a hairball forming. 
2. Brushing daily to remove excess loose hairs. It helps remove hairs which could then be groomed and ingested.
3. Changing bedding.  Remove bedding with hair, and wash/clean bedding as best as you can to remove any hairs. The more hairs that end up on bedding ends up making your ferret more itchy, so remove bedding and replace with fresh and clean bedding every couple of days.
4. Egg.  Raw Egg contains lecithin and choline, both are great for helping hair move through the digestive tract of your ferret.

The best and most efficient prevention is using multiple of these. Brushing daily during shedding season is essential, and along with the help of the egg, you would have a double whammy!

Eggs are you friend!

Eggs contain a small amount of natural carbs. Usually it is under 1g but when cooked it can increase just a little. Unlike the carbs in pet foods, this will not affect the ferret in any way since the egg is only a small percentage of their overall diet. The egg contain valuable fats and nutrients, (Lecithin) which are known to help cleanse and lubricate the internal structures of the ferret. Because of that, it is recommended to give a ferret at least 1 egg per week, and up to 2-3 eggs per week during shedding season. 

 

Lecithin emulsifies fat, breaking it down into small particles. This speeds up and improves the digestion of fats by enzymes because the surface area is increased. This is what makes Lecithin such an incredible hairball preventative. Lecithin aids liver function, keeps the arterial lining free from cholesterol and prevents kidney and gallstones from forming. Methionine, which is also found in eggs, is also essential in the formation of nucleic acid of the genetic material of every cell. It’s a powerful antioxidant, assists in gall-bladder function and detoxifies heavy metals and excess histamine levels from the body. 

High quality eggs are rich in vitamins A and D, as well as Choline. Choline is an essential water-soluble nutrient that is usually grouped in as part of the B-Vitamin complex. Although not technically a vitamin by strict definition, this organic compound is required for life’s most quintessential functions, including basic cellular structure, nutrient transport and metabolism. It overall helps to improve gastrointestinal motility. Although it is naturally synthesized in small amounts within the liver, a significant amount of choline must be consumed in the diet to maintain health. Choline exists in all living cells, but is probably best known as a major part of lecithin–the emulsifier that keeps fats from clumping together.  

Raw eggs from a clean source are actually known as a health tonic and the whole egg is known to eliminate stored toxins from the body.

Concerns about raw eggs? Click here!

Blockage Symptoms

Some Common and Severe symptoms of a hairball blockage would be:

- Small, skinny poops or no poop at all, Tarry or black poop.

- Lethargic / Weakness / Decreased activity / Collapse,

- Vomiting / Dry heaving, 

- Unable or refusal to eat / Decreased appetite, 

- Decreased body temperature. 
- Weight loss, 

- Pawing at the roof of the mouth, 

- Teeth grinding.

- Abdominal distension,

- Shock

- Death.

When you suspect you have a blockage caused by a hairball it must be treated immediately or the ferret may stop feeding and ultimately die due to dehydration. 

CLICK HERE FOR BLOCKAGE PROTOCOL

Ferret Health: Hepatic lipidosis

Hepatic lipidosis

Good afternoon friends!

Today I decided to write little about an interesting topic that has been popping up a lot lately.

I've actually been researching this topic for a while and gathered a little information on it. I think this is essential that every ferret owner is aware of this issue so we can avoid it from ever happening to our lovely ferrets! Let's begin! 

Just like our feline friends, ferrets too can get this disease. It is known as Hepatic lipidosis, A.K.A  fatty liver, and is one of the most common liver diseases our ferrets could get. Hepatic lipidosis can get out of hand and cause damage in very little time, so understanding  this disease can help us to prevent it as best we can from ever happening to our little fuzzy companions, as well as help treat it.

What exactly is Hepatic lipidosis?

Hepatic Lipidosis is a common problem among many species of animals and even humans. It is more commonly known as Fatty Liver Disease. In ferrets (and cats), there is officially no known cause, hence why is most often left undiagnosed. Most ferrets are either obese or have experienced a sudden weight loss, or enforced fasting which then results in excessive mobilisation of fat stores, this then results in liberation of nonesterified fatty acids, which accumulate in the liver and result in hepatomegaly and hepatitis. 

Why It Is Serious

The liver on the top of the picture to

the left shows severe hepatic lipidosis. 

This liver may float in water! The liver 

on the bottom is normal in colour.

If Hepatic lipidosis is left untreated or undiagnosed, can become life threatening due to the fast digestive tract of the ferret. There is a high mortality rate associated with this condition, but if caught and diagnosed in early stages then the ferret has a better chance of recovery. If the ferret is left without food for too long, the chances of Hepatic lipidosis is more likely to occur due to sudden fasting. Affected ferrets are debilitated and may suffer from malnutrition, hepatic lipidosis, and aspiration pneumonia.If not detected early, there is high chances of the ferret dying from either malnutrition or complications from liver failure. 

Remember they have a fast digestive tract of roughly 3-4 hours. Left without food for a lengthy time can be risky especially for ferrets who have other diagnosed diseases. For the sake of the ferret's overall health, please always ensure that they have food readily available or within the 3-4 hour timeframe.  Left without food for prolonged periods is very dangerous, very unhealthy and not good practice so please always ensure your ferret has food available. Ferret's especially those with other health conditions such as insulinoma may crash, have a seizure and die in very little time from being left without food for prolonged period.

How Does It Occur?

There is always an underlying cause and various risks or reasons as to why a ferret would get Hepatic lipidosis. Half of the cases are called 'idiopathic,' meaning we do not know what has caused the condition, although almost all cases are associated with obesity or enforced fasting. Hepatic lipidosis can be found in association with long-term anorexia / severely underweight ferrets. Chronic GI diseases (e.g., trichobezoar formation) can lead to

hepatic lipidosis. Foreign bodies in the proximal duodenum can obstruct the bile ducts as they enter the small intestine and cause increased liver enzyme and bilirubin levels. 

Some risks that may result or increase chances of hepatic lipidosis are: 

• Endocrine or Metabolic Diseases,
• Cancers, 
• Hypoxia, Hepatotoxins, 
• Pregnancy Toxemia, 
• Diabetes, 
• Adrenocortical Adenocarcinoma, 
• Insulinoma,  
• Anorexia, 
• Obesity, 
• Kidney Disease, 
• Other Diseases, 
• Loss of Appetite, 
• Stress,
• Enforced Fasting,
• Etc.

Fasting And It's Inpact On The Liver

When a ferret goes into fasting, It's body forces the liver to convert body fat into usable energy. If this process continues for too long, fat builds up in the cells of the liver, and the disease has officially onset. Prognosis varies depending on the stage of the disease, with both a high recovery and mortality rate at different stages. The disease is may be reversible through intense feeding and there are higher chances of survival if caught in the early stages. 

Here is a good example.

This is Hepatomegaly in a cat. 

Enlarged, yellow and friable 

liver from a cat that died from 

hepatic lipidosis.

The liver's main functions include protein synthesis, the production of chemicals necessary for digestion, and the detoxification of the body. 

The liver also plays an important role in metabolism, the emulsification of fats, the production of coagulation factors (necessary for blood clotting), and in the decomposition of red blood cells. 

The liver is of such importance to the body, carrying out so many complex functions, that there is no way to compensate for the loss of the liver when it fails.

Symptoms of Hepatic Lipidosis

Clinically affected ferrets with Hepatic Lipidosis are present with any of the following: 

• Lethargy / Depression, 
• Tachypnea / abnormally rapid breathing, 
• Icterus / Jaundice / Yellowing of the skin (Best seen around the nose, paws and ears), 
• Dyspnea (difficult or laboured breathing.), 
• A pendulous abdomen, 
• Significant weakness / Ataxia: The loss of control of bodily movements in hind limbs.
• Prolonged skin tenting, 
• and mild tail-tip alopecia / loss of hair around the tail tip. 

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is based on presenting clinical signs and haematological analysis (blood tests) of elevated triglycerides and metabolic acidosis. A liver biopsy may confirm the presence of the disease.

Treatment

Treatment requires forced feeding, esophagostomy tube placement and aggressive intravenous glucose supplementation. If the ferret is obese then a corrective diet is essential to correct obesity. A ferret on a species appropriate diet is rarely obese, unless there is an underlying condition which then may cause obesity due to medications.  Correcting any underlying disease such as pregnancy toxemia, insulinoma or adrenocortical adenocarcinoma is critical for survival of the ferret. 

If you suspect your ferret has this condition, get your ferret to a vet ASAP!!

References:
http://vet.uga.edu/ivcvm/courses/vpat5215/digestive/week03/liverpath/fatty_change.htm
http://vetbook.org/wiki/ferret/index.php?title=Hepatic_lipidosis
http://www.zoopath.com/DiseasesofDomesticFerrets.pdf
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2135&aid=217
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatty_liver
http://vetbook.org/wiki/cat/index.php/Hepatic_lipidosis
Common Diseases of Companion Animals by Allelic Summers
Elsevier: Ferrets, Rabbits, and Rodents by James W Carpenter, Katherine Quesenberry 

This article may be altered/edited/updated. 

Cataracts in ferrets.

Let’s talk about Cataracts in ferrets.

By: Machan.

In this we will cover the following:

1. What is a cataract?

2. What causes cataracts?

3. Can they be treated?

4. Looking after a ferret with a cataract.

What is a cataract?

Cataracts are an eye disease, where the internal lens of the eye becomes clouded with an opaque milky white film. They’re painless and often progressive over a period of time. Cataracts cause blurred vision and occur when protein builds up in the lens of the eye. That build up prevents light from passing through the lens and can cause some loss of vision. Other than blurred vision, cataracts can also cause light sensitivity especially to light glares. Distortion or double vision can also happen in the affected eye and over time the cataract can lead to total loss of vision. Cataracts are more easily seen in dark eyed ferrets compared to albino red eyed ferrets. In dark eyed ferrets, Cataracts appear as a milky dull white opaque film on their pupils while in albinos it appears as a pink film that isn't as easily seen.

What causes cataracts?

There are a number of causes for cataracts in ferrets, including metabolic, hereditary, congenital, infections and trauma or damage to the eye. Cataracts are more likely to form after the age of 7, or in older ferrets. Other health conditions can also increase the risk of cataracts, for example Diabetes, Uveitis and Aleutians disease. Long-term use of steroid medications, exposure to certain drugs, or oxygen toxicity during anaesthesia, too, can cause cataracts to develop. Just because something ‘can’ cause cataracts to develop, doesn’t necessarily always mean that they ‘will’, it simply means that there are the possibilities of cataracts forming. Juvenile cataracts are not that rare among ferrets. They don’t happen often, but they can happen. Especially in early ages, or even since birth. Most of the time a Juvenile cataract is congenital or hereditary in origin, But damage to the eye or even a poor diet can cause cataracts or blindness. A Taurine deficiency can cause Blindness in ferrets, so regardless of age it is essential for a well balanced diet. 

Can they be treated?

Cataracts can be treated, only if there is swelling or redness in the affected eye. Anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to keep the eye less inflamed and to make it more comfortable for the ferret. That cannot bring any vision back to the affected eye, but it can keep the eye calm and manageable. Surgery can be done to remove the cataract, however it is a risky procedure for ferrets. Ferrets have very small eyes compared to a dog or cat which makes it more difficult to extract the lens. Surgery is also quite costly, rarely done and best avoided for the sake of the ferret.

Looking after a ferret with a cataract.

Ferrets with cataracts or blindness can live a normal. healthy and happy life just like a ferret with normal vision. Give them the same love and care, you would any other ferret and don't look at them for their health condition or disability. Ferrets in general have poor vision and are nearsighted. They see things that are close more easily compared to things that are further away. They are highly dependant on their sense of smell and hearing so they can use those two senses to easily get themselves around their home and cage. If you need to move things around in the home, make sure to do so over time to avoid the ferret from having any accidents or becoming confused. If you can, avoid moving things around all together. Handle the ferret normally but be aware that you may need to be gentle and try to avoid startling them especially if they're totally blind. They will also memorise their surrounding and some have been known to use a seeing eye ferret. When picking up or petting a blind or semi blind ferret, speak to them softly and clearly to make them aware of your presence, otherwise there may be a chance that they may spook and bite or nip out of fear. Cataracts will not in any way, stop the ferret from leading a normal happy and healthy life. Though they won't visually see you, they will know you by scent and voice. 

Here’s image example of a cataract in a dark eyed ferret. This is my 2 year old boy Beavis. He had no injury or trauma to his left eye, so it is suspected to be a hereditary juvenile cataract in only his left eye. He still plays normally and is enjoying life. The Cataract is no hindrance to him.

It started to form on the 25th of August and by the 1st of September. Under a week it was clearly visible.
Some cataracts can take a while to completely form, while some are very quick to form.

References:
Biology and Diseases of the Ferret by James G. Fox.
www.visionaustralia.org/eye-health/eye-conditions/cataracts
www.webmd.com/eye-health/cataracts/health-cataracts-eyes 
www.veterinarypracticenews.com/April-2009/Trauma-And-Disease-Threaten-Ferret-Eyes-And-Lives/
www.cypresskeep.com/Ferretfiles/Body-Eyes-FM.htm

Read more: http://holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/19130/cataracts-ferrets#ixzz3uhTtggXv

Ferret Teeth

An adult ferret has a total of 34 permanent adult teeth which consist of the incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Kits, baby ferrets, have 30 teeth which should be in by 3 months of age and then replaced with adult teeth by 9 months of age.

Each of these teeth plays a specific role in helping the ferret to catch and consume its prey.

• There are 4 canines, also called “fang” or “eye” teeth, are quite large and are located at the front of the mouth on the top and bottom jaw. They are used to puncture and grip onto their prey.

• The upper third premolar and lower first molar are found near the back of the ferret’s mouth, and in front of the non-carnassial molars, are the carnassial (or sectoral) teeth. The purpose of these teeth is to shear through tissue and bone, much like scissors cut through paper. The non-carnassial molars at the rear of the mouth can be used to crush or grind up invertebrates.

• The 6 small Incisors are located on the front of the mouth, between the canines and they are used to help scrape meat off the bone, but it appears that ferrets can continue to eat food with little hindrance if these are lost or damaged.

Each of the ferret’s 34 teeth serve a specific purpose and allow for the efficient consumption of raw and whole prey foods. With that being said, it is very clear that these cute little guys’ teeth are built for flesh. Kibble on the other hand, increases the chance of teeth wear and grinds away ferret teeth at faster rates than in larger animals not simply because their teeth are smaller, but because they have proportionately less volume of dentine when compared to the teeth of larger carnivores. 

Ferret teeth is not designed to chew kibble. Kibble does not cut like meat. When meat is compressed by opposing cutting teeth, it compacts and severs as the teeth scissor through the tissue. Some tissue is dragged back and forth on the teeth, but the friction is slight and the wear rate is low. Of great importance to the teeth is that the tissue compresses during eating, which imparts little impact to the tooth, and in some cases can even act as a shock absorber to dental tissues. However, when kibble is eaten, it doesn’t compress-it fractures and drags across the tops of the carnassials. Kibble is a hard substance, so ferrets chew it in a predictable manner on specific teeth. This makes tooth wear predictable. These teeth are simply not structurally designed to process a food as abrasive as kibble. These teeth are extremely small, and are designed for holding and ripping tissue, not crushing abrasive biscuits. They wear down very rapidly, and it is not unusual to find only the tops of the roots protruding from the recessed gums.There is zero evidence that consuming a kibble diet will keep the teeth of ferrets clean. In fact, the opposite was found to be true; most ferrets consuming kibble had as much dental tartar, or more, as those consuming a wet diet (wet cat food, chicken baby food, a/d, etc.). Pet ferrets consuming a natural diet, polecats, black-footed ferrets, and New Zealand feral ferrets had very little dental tartar. 

Ferret dental problems are similar to dog and cat conditions. Fractured teeth and broken canines are quite common for ferrets. A tooth can break from a fight or other trauma. Ferrets, especially those confined to cages for long periods of time, are prone to biting cage wire in an attempt to escape. Over time, distinct wear patterns emerge that are distinguishable from dietary attrition. The notching on the canine indicated by the arrow significantly reduces the biomechanical strength of the tooth, increasing its likelihood of fracture. Sometimes only the enamel is chipped and if that is the case then it should be treated by a veterinarian who will sedate the ferret and file down any rough edges. If the tooth fractures and exposes the nerve, the treatment of choice is to remove the inflamed nerve in order to save the tooth. 

Ferrets can also suffer from some orthodontic conditions. If one or both of the lower canines may abnormally point forward. this condition may cause the upper lip to become inflamed and cause excess dryness of the lower gum tissues. The treatment for this consists of removing half or three quarters of the tooth’s height and sealing the pulp chamber with medication and acrylic bonding. 

Periodontal disease is the most common condition in the ferret older than six years. Periodontal disease can be decreased through cleaning every six months and daily tooth brushing. Some cat toothpastes appear to be safe to use in ferrets but please remember to check ingredients before using anything because some toothpastes can contain toxic or harmful ingredients to ferrets. The treatment of periodontal disease consists of extraction of loose teeth and frequent veterinary oral evaluations.