scracthing

Question
My ferret is 4 years old. It is always scratching.I checked out real good,I cant find any thing wrong. Any ideas?

Answer
Tim,

 Sorry for the delay in responding. I was out of town all weekend. Ferrets are pretty itchy to begin with. Some scratch more than others. If this is new behavior, it could be a number of things. Excessive itching can be caused by fleas--looks for any flea bites/scabs. It can also be caused by adrenal disease. If there are any other symptoms such as hair loss/thinning, dry, coarse coat, weight loss(other than seasonal), muscle wasting, straining to urinate, etc. he may be showing symptoms of adrenal disease(which is very common around this age) Itching can also be caused by something as simple as excessively dry air in your home. If that's the case, purchasing a humidifier will alleviate the problem. Also giving your ferret a little Ferretone each day can help. Itching can also be caused by an allergic reaction to something that has come into contact with their skin. If you've switched to a different detergent for washing his bedding, or maybe are using a new cleaner for his cage, your rugs, floors, etc. Has he recently come into contact with(or eaten) something new? Check his skin for any red areas or a "rash". Check for any lumps or scabs(mast cell tumors often cause itching as well).
 Some ferrets also get excessively itchy when they are going through a coat shed. If none of these solve the problem and it continues to be a concern, have your vet check him over to see if it may be caused by an underlying medical problem.
Hope this helps.

~Nancy