Ferret wont stop shaking

Question
Hello, I am the owner of two adorable hobs (Pocket and Meeko) they are both 4 months old. The weather has gotten nice so a few days ago I took them out on there harnesses for a walk down at my local provincial park. they both hopped along jumping through the leaves and nudging there heads through what was left of the melting snow. I noticed that Meeko began to shake when i picked him up so i took them back home. Meeko (who by the way is fixed and possibley a little over weight as he is significantly larger than Pocket who isnt fixed)has been shaking whenever i pick him up or hold him ever since playing down at the park. I am curious if this is normal or if maybe he is getting sick or something. granted he does prance around the house, eat and drink like normal with the only abnormal behaviour being his non stop shaking when held. Please let me know your opinion as I am a little concerned. thank-you.

Answer
Hi Lisa:

Usually the FIRST sign that a ferret is sick is that they stop eating and drinking normally. So, if he's definitely eating and drinking normally, that should give you SOME consolation.  Shivering usually indicates they are either chilled or scared. How did he act when at the park? Was he possibly scared there at any time?  Any time he could have gotten ahold of anything and eaten it at the park?

The last thing I would say about taking ferrets out in public is they should ALWAYS have both their rabies AND distemper shots - both diseases are so very contagious that they can catch them simply by YOU walking where a sick animal has walked, then wearing your shoes in the house!!  So, hopefully your kids are immunized and that should give you some confidence too, if they are...if they aren't get them immunized before taking them out again.

Since his behavior around the house hasn't changed and he's eating and drinkin okay, I would just say to continue to observe for other symptoms. He may have gotten chilled - add a few nice warm fleece blankies in his cage to snuggle down into and maybe just a good warm up would be sufficient. Shaking is usually the way they increase their body temperature, so maybe he's just trying to tell you that he really got chilled the other day.  Ferrets do tolerate cool temperatures better than warm ones (never take a ferret out in over 80 degree weather MAXIMUM) - a panting ferret is a dying ferret.  

Since all symptoms we would worry about seem to be OKAY, just continue to observe and put some warm blankies in his cage and hopefully he will warm back up and the shaking will stop, but please continue to watch him carefully to be SURE he's eating and drinking and playing normally in the meantime.  It doesn't seem anything to be too worried about at this point in time, but that could change, so do keep paying attention and report any changes to your vet immediately - he MIGHT be trying to tell you something; nothing in his current behavior is anything serious to worry about.

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers