Teeth Grinding

Question
I just got a new ferret 4 days ago. I have noticed that she grinds her teeth quite a bit. She does not act lethargic or anything, she seems to be perfectly happy and healthy. Is this common in ferrets? She is the second ferret I have owned, and my first one never grinded his teeth. So I'm not sure what to think of it....

Answer
Hi Chasity:

Congratulations on your new ferret!!  

Teeth grinding means that your ferret has some kind of stomach problem - stomach pain.  I could ask you questions like how long it has been going on, if she is eating okay, etc......but that wouldn't really help your ferret, because the ultimate answer is that you really need to get her to a vet as soon as possible and let the vet ask those questions so she knows which kind of medication to give your little one.

It can be anything from an ulcer to irritable bowel syndrome, or something as simple as changing foods, but whatever it is, your ferret is sending you a signal that  *something* is wrong.

Do you have a ferret specialist vet in your area that you use already?   There is one list of vets here:

http://ferrethealth.org/vets/

If not, write back to me and I'll be happy to find one for you if you write back with your city and state, as there are several lists.

Stomach problems usually start out simple, but if you allow it to go on, it will not get better on its own...*something* is wrong that needs fixed with either an antibiotic or acid reducer.

Just in case you can't get in to see the vet immediately, you *may* be able to help your feret feel better temporarily. Get some Pepcid AC in tablet form.  Dissolve two tablets in 10cc (ten)of water (by putting both the tablets and the water in a small bottle and shaking, wait a while for the pill to dissolve a little more, then shake some more, etc)  Keep doing this until the pills are completely dissolved.  

After your solution is all dissolved (probably 1/2 hr) -  using a small (tuberculin) syringe without the needle, draw up .5cc (one-half) of the fluid.

If you haven't given medications before, it's really easy...you just scruff (hold her by the fur on the back of her neck like the mama ferret would do, except upright) the ferret with your left hand(if you're right handed), then, holding the syringe with your right hand - gently dribble the medication just barely into the side of her mouth - don't put the syringe too far into her mouth or push the plunger too quickly.  Give her a chance to swallow the medication.   

Do this three times a day. Be sure to refrigerate and shake the medication each time before giving it to her.  Although this will *hopefully* help the pain of the tummyache, it will probably not *fix* your ferrets problem, so she really needs to see a vet as soon as you can get her in.

Ferrets, especially ferrets who have had some upset such as changing homes, etc., sometimes develop ulcers just from the emotional upset. After a series of medications, the ulcer can heal and the ferret can be perfectly normal again, but they need two different antibiotics and pepto bismol to fight the helicobacter (a virus) that causes the ulcer in the first place.

There's always a possibility that it's NOT an ulcer too.....it could be a partial blockage or several other things that could be dangerous if not seen right away, which is why you really need to take her to a vet for a test to see exactly what is causing her tummy to hurt.

One other thing - until you get your ferret to the vet, be sure NOT to kiss your ferret on the mouth, just in case it IS an ulcer and your ferret has the helicobacter  virus, because it is contagious and you could get tummy problems from your ferret if your stomach happens to have the proper breeding grounds for it to grow.

Best of luck to you and your little one. Please get your ferret to the vet as soon as possible tho, okay?  If there is anything else at all I can do, please write me again.

sincerely,
jacquie rodgers