Change in Ferret Behavior

Question
I have two ferrets both just over one year old.  Recently, one of them has stopped using the litter box (she will jump in act like she is going ...jump back out and poop right beside it even though it is cleaned out...some times she will sniff it and pee right beside it too).  I keep the cage extremely clean (Scooping out the litter boxes twice a day and wiping down the cage once a day.  I completely wash their litter boxes and cage once a week.)  She never used to do this and would always use her litter box.  Additionally, she has started scratching like crazy (more so than usual).  The skin on her belly and around her head and shoulders is now pink.  She doesn't play like she used to and has also started chewing on the ceramic food dish I have in the cage.  When she gets out she rubs her face and belly along on the carpet (if she isn't scratching), she will play for a little while and then she will just lay down and look at me.  When I try to hold her, she wiggles to get down.  I took her to the vet.  All they did was check for ear mites and fleas.  She doesn't have either.  What can I do to help her...I think something is wrong and have been unable to find the symptoms in the books I have or off line.

Answer
Hello Misti,

My guess would be the irritation causing the itching is bothering her.  Any strange behavior (urinating in strange places, chewing, etc) can usually be linked to stress and discomfort. The difficult part will be to try and determine what is causing her to be itchy in the first place. It is my guess that once you fix the itching, her odd behaviors will cease.   

The first thing that comes to mind is allergies.  They do occur in ferrets, just as cats, dogs and people!  Often the cause is difficult to isolate, since it can be anything from seasonal allergies from pollen, food, litter, or even the fabric softener you use.  The symptoms can be coughing, sneezing, difficulty breathing, itching, etc.  Usually itching is more common than upper respiratory problems in pets.  Unfortunately allergies can start at any age.  My cat was 10 before she developed a food allergy, for example.  You might want to try eliminating some common causes to see if that helps.  

It is great you brought her to the vet to check for fleas and ear mites.  There are other types of mites however that reside in places other than the ears.  You will not be able to see these with your naked eye.  Your vet would need to do a skin scrape and place it under the microscope to determine if these are the cause of the discomfort and itching.  If this is the reason, he will prescribe the appropriate treatment to get rid of them.   

Discontinue any use of fabric softener in any of your pets blankets and bedding.  Fabric softeners are a common source of allergy.  If you have recently washed your pets bedding and used fabric softener or dryer sheets, rewash them and discontinue their use.

Another cause could be diet.  Make sure you are using a high quality ferret food that is protein based and not carbohydrates.  often, low quality food causes allergy, and is also very unhealthy and can lead to other health problems.  If you would like more info on food, please visit the link below for a question I answered for someone regarding diet.  

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Ferrets-2277/2008/6/food-ferrets.htm  


What type of litter do you use?  Clay cat litter contains dust that are renowned for causing upper respiratory problems as well as itching and scratching!  Also, most wood chips are toxic, and carefresh can cause obstructions.  I recommend switching to Yesterdays News if you do not already use it.  it is made from recycled newspaper and works wonderfully.  You can readily purchase it from any large pet store.  

Yesterdays News website:
http://www.yesterdaysnews.com/?D=686994&T=4343138

Ask yourself if you have begun to use any different products lately.  There are SO many things that these guys cold be allergic to!  Make sure you use only pet-safe cleaners around your ferret.  Lysol or harsh chemicals are very toxic. It is a possibility she is having a reaction from even minimal exposure to cleaners.   

Seasonal allergies or those of unknown origin might be more difficult to determine.  If they are seasonal, they will return every year around the same time.  The likely cause would be plant pollen or some other debris in the air.  

As long as she is eating, drinking and maintaining a normal activity level it would be fine to keep an eye on her.  If she becomes worse, or has labored breathing, you should see your veterinarian ASAP.  He can give steroid injections to help with allergies, although I do not condone the use of steroids long term since they can cause serious health problems.  It is far better to find the root of the cause which is possible though extensive testing, although this can be expensive.  

There is also a possibility that this is not allergies at all.  It could be a sign of another underlying cause.  This is why I recommend further diagnostics if it does not clear up.  

Good luck!  I hope this information has proved useful.  please let me know if you have any other questions.    

-Cindy P.