Itchy Ferret Losing Fur - in UK?

Question
MY FERRET IS LOOSING HAIR ON IT S BACK AND HEAD I USE HIM FOR RABBIT HUNTING AND HE HAS SCRAPS IN THE AREAS OF HAIR LOSE  CAN U TEL ME WAT U THINK IT IS AND HOW TO CURE IT

Answer
Hi Jonny:

I'm so sorry your ferret is having the itchies! That really makes them so miserable. You are very wise for being concerned. It may *look* like a minor problem because it's 'only' a little bare spot or two, but simple symptoms like these quite often are indicative of more serious things that may be going on inside the ferret. It's ALWAYS best to check them out early and thoroughly.

There are just too many unanswered questions that make it impossible for me to know what might be causing his fur loss and itchies, but I can tell you about some of the more likely possibilities. With a little information, hopefully you will be prepared to help him get better faster and get more comfortable QUICKLY.

First things first: Let's get that little guy comfortable just as quickly as we can! Gently massage some antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin, 3 in 1 Ointment, Triple Antibiotic Ointment, etc. (or even just vaseline if no antibiotic ointment is readily available) 3 or 4 times a day to help keep that scabby skin from getting infected and hopefully make it a bit less itchy. There's nothing as annoying than an itch that just won't stop! He will probably lick it - the other ferrets will too - so try to just rub it in really well. If you use Vaseline, any excess the ferrets lick off will act as a hairball treatment, so it absolutely won't hurt them. IF you do use antibiotic ointment, try to not leave much excess on because the antibiotics could upset their tummies - rub it in for about two minutes, then blot the excess off, leaving a nice thin film. You should notice a big difference in his comfort level when he gets some relief from that itchy skin!

Do you live in UK?  I ask that because that's where most rabbit hunting with ferrets is done.  The piece of the puzzle that just doesn't fit is that UK ferrets don't usually get adrenal disease, which is the disease most commonly responsible for fur loss....in the United States because we neuter ferrets at a very young age (at least that's one theory of what causes so much adrenal disease). Was your ferret neutered at a young age?  Is he still whole, or neutered?

How old is your ferret?  Ferrets are most likely to get adrenal disease between the ages of 2 and 4 years of age, although it can show at any time, these are the most common times we see it.  

Is your ferret kept indoors or outside? Is he kept where he is in the dark from sundown to morning? That's another theory why ferrets get adrenal disease; that artificial lights we use in our homes cause their systems to become confused, stressing the adrenal glands and resulting in adrenal disease.

Are there any bumps on the bare skin where the fur is missing? I know you said the skin is scratched - that's because he has been scratching it, no doubt, but does there appear to be bumps like a rash also?  This could be a myriad of reasons anywhere from an allergy to something in his surroundings, his food, dust mites, the shampoo you use...the list is endless when we start looking at allergies as potential culprits.

Are the bare spots circular in shape and tend to have a red ring around the outer edge of the bare spot? This could mean ringworm, a very contagious skin parasite he could possibly pick up being around wild animals.

He could even have contracted 'mange', another seriously contagious problem that would cause fur loss. There are just so many possibilities when you take ferrets out into the world of wild animals.

Hopefully you do have your ferrets immunizations all up to date so they have protection from most of the most serious, quickly deadly diseases.

I would strongly encourage you to take your ferret to a vet and let the vet do some skin scrapings, examine them under a microscope and determine if this is a parasitic infestation or if he possibly has adrenal disease.  If he does have adrenal disease, the ONLY cure is to have the gland removed; then he should live a normal happy life afterwards. Lupron and melatonin injections make the symptoms go away, but the disease continues to progress inside the ferret and eventually they die from it. Your vet will be your best source of information for both diagnostic testing required and treatment options.

I'm sorry I don't have a magic wand to fix this little one. I think a visit to the vet will probably reveal the source of the problem. I hope and pray it's something simple that a 'quick fix' will take care of. No matter what it is, the sooner he gets medical attention, the better for him and his chances of a quick recovery. Do, PLEASE get some ointment on his bare spots today if possible...and 3 to 4 (or more) times a day. It will really make him feel better.

If you need a referral to a ferret vet in your area, please write again and I'll research that for you - just be sure to tell me where you are, k?  Best of luck - my thoughts and prayers are with you and your little guy!

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers