my ferrets rectums are protruding

Question
Hi! I have two male ferrets. One is 2 and one is 3. Yesterday I used clumping litter in their cage not knowing that it wasn't good to use in their cage. I took them out to play a little while ago and noticed that both of their rectums are protruding slightly.  The older ferret, Bailey's, rectum isn't protruding too much, but it is a bit pink. Bandit's is protruding a bit more. I would say it is around 1/8 of an inch and it is pretty red.  I took them out of the litter so I can clean up all the litter, but I'm afraid that it got stuck in their bottoms. Should I be very concerned? If it comes down to it, I can take them to the vet in a few days, but I figured I would wait to see if it improves any because I know it IS from the litter and its not a bacterial infection.  The boys are both acting normal and eating normal. Should I give them wet food until it gets better? I appreciate your help. Thank you so much!
-Christina

Answer
Hello christina,

This is an excellent question!  Thank you for asking.  

Have your kids been having an diarrhea? This is a condition called a prolapsed rectum.  It usually occurs in young ferrets or any that have severe diarrhea. Other causes of rectal prolapse are any condition that causes the ferret to strain when he/she defecates thus pushing out rectal tissue including intestinal lymphoma, proliferative colitis, severe parasitism, intestinal intussception (where the intestine telescopes on itself), and GI foreign body.  Luckily these can regress spontaneously, but this is not true of all cases.  

Since your boys are acting normally (and I assume no diarrhea), I am not sure what might be causing the problem. I can, however, give you general information about the condition.  

The following was written by Judith A. Bell, DVM, PhD
From: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=11+1284&aid=560

"Ferrets that have diarrhea sometimes strain until the soft pink lining of the rectum is pushed through the anal opening. This is common in juvenile ferrets with proliferative colitis, a severe inflammation of the lower intestine caused by a bacterial infection. Prolapsed rectum also occurs sometimes in young kits soon after arrival at pet shops. Usually the cause is the dry diet that the kits eat in large quantities because they are hungry after their long trip. It is rarely associated with descenting when the surgery is properly done in a young ferret.

A prolapsed rectum not accompanied by severe diarrhea is not an emergency unless the ferret feels so irritated that he begins to chew the prolapse, which can cause profuse hemorrhage. If a newly acquired kit has a small prolapse, give a half inch of cat laxative paste twice a day, and with a lubricated finger, gently push the prolapse back into the rectum.

The prolapse will often vanish spontaneously within 48 hours. Make sure the kit has water available and consider feeding him a soft diet for a few days, by mixing his pellets with warm water.

Severe diarrhea may cause prolapsed rectum. This is an emergency, and the ferret should be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible."

Make sure you keep a close watch on these two, and if the prolapse reoccurs or becomes worse, it can turn into an emergency situation. You may want to have them seen ASAP as a precaution.  If only a small portion of tissue (1-3 mm is protruding, a softened diet and creams such as Preparation H and 0.5% cortisone three times daily and after every bowel movement can help. If there are any other symptoms (constipation, pain, diarrhea, redness or swelling), or if more than 3 mm (about 1/8 inch) is showing, have a vet look at it.  It may need a suture to hold the prolapse in place.   

Other information on prolapsed rectums:
A photo: http://miamiferret.org/images/prolapsed_rectum.jpg
http://www.hillsborovet.com/pet_care/small/ferret_prolapse.php
http://miamiferret.org/faq.htm#prolapse

Consider using a pelleted litter such as yesterdays news. Another option is plain newspaper.  Ferrets don't bury their feces, and I have discovered this works best and is the most cost efficient method.  

-Cindy P.