Is My Ferret Dying?

Question
what are signs that your ferret may be ding?

Answer
Hi Sonya:

Signs that your ferret is dying would vary according to what your ferret may be dying of.

A ferret who dies of old age basically can just pass away in their sleep after appearing completely healthy, just like people ferrets can have underlying health problems that are not obvious.

Ferrets who have diseases may lose fur, weight and energy if they don't receive good veterinary care.  Even young ferrets can die from falls and injuries in a home that is not well ferretproofed.  A ferret who is bleeding internally will have a pale tongue and gums; conversely, a ferret who is dying from being overheated will have very red gums and tongue and pads of their feet.

Generally a ferret who is dying of old age has either adrenal disease or insulinoma.  If the ferret has adrenal disease, it will lose fur, lose weight and muscle tone, become extremely itchy (due to dry skin) in the months before death.  He will lose appetite and become weak and inactive and eventually die if not treated.

A ferret who develops insulinoma would have times of inactivity and staring into space, even seizures from low blood sugar.  Again, the ferret would generally eat less or not at all and be inactive.  Insulinoma can be treated - either with surgery or medication.

Ferrets who get intestinal blockages stop eating, or eat less, their tummies *may* be bloated and uncomfortable, and they become inactive and die. Intestinal blockages are treated with surgery to remove the blockage. Any time a ferret stops eating and blockage is suspected, is is an *emergency* and the ferret needs surgery immediately (yes, even an all-night emergency vet clinic if it's after hours). If they can't do the surgery immediately, at least they can get some fluids in the ferret, which often means the difference between life and death.

I have heard of ferrets living to be 10 years old, so nobody should *assume* that their ferret is dying of old age if it stops eating, drinking and playing.  The ferret may well have something wrong that can be quickly fixed with a surgery and/or change of diet or medications.

I can probably answer your question better if you give me more information about what your situation is.  Without additional information, the only thing I can do is give you very general information.  Just like people, ferrets who are dying are generally weak, inactive and look ill. A ferret can, however, bounce back very very quickly with proper vet care (unless it is very very old or has specific health incurable problems).  Ferrets who are sick often look like they are dying and they can actually bounce back to normal very quickly from what appeared to be the edge of death when proper veterinary care is received.  The secret with saving a ferret's life, no matter what the health problem is, is to act early and aggressively with veterinary care by a vet who specializes in caring for 'exotics' or small animals.

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers