Ferrets - Gastrointestinal Disease

Gastrointestinal disease in ferrets is all too frequent - from dental disease, through gastric foreign bodies to persistent diarrhoea. Some are readily prevented while others require considerable diagnostic investigation and long term treatment.

Dental disease

Older ferrets are commonly affected with dental tartar, gingivitis (gum inflammation) and frank dental decay. Pulp infections are also seen regularly. The common habit of biting and gnawing objects often prevents the build-up of tartar but can lead to dental damage. Dry diets may reduce some forms of dental disease, but it still seems a common problem. 

Gastric foreign bodies

Ferrets chew with such fervour that rubber or plastic objects are often swallowed, especially by young ferrets. In older animals hairballs are more often the cause of gastric problems. The key features of a case of gastric foreign body are lethargy and anorexia with or without diarrhoea. Interestingly one would expect vomiting to be the main sign, but in many cases it is not. Foreign objects in the small intestine often cause pain and are relatively easy to feel by palpating the abdomen. Objects in the stomach give less in the way of pain and are more difficult to feel in the abdomen. Ferrets rarely pass such foreign bodies and exploratory surgery of the abdomen is essential after taking x-rays to confirm that signs of a foreign body are present - gas in the intestine and stomach even if the object cannot obviously be seen. After such surgery with removal of the offending object ferrets should be given soft food for the first 24-48 hours but can be allowed to go home after that time.

Parasites

Gastrointestinal parasites are rarely seen in ferrets but any ferret with diarrhoea should have a routine faecal examination. While gastrointestinal worms are very rarely seen, protozoa such as Giardia or Coccidia may occur. Persistent diarrhoea may occur with these and rectal prolapse can be a problem associated with such diarrhoea in young animals.

Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea can occur with a number of different diseases. Various viral problems have been associated with diarrhoea, including distemper (usually acute and fatal), coronavirus and rotavirus. Inflammatory bowel diseases (eg eosinophilic enteritis) are increasingly seen as is diarrhoea due to the gastrointestinal form of lymphoma. Occasionally bacterial enteritis with Salmonella or Campylobacter spp is seen. Supportive treatment is essential in any case of diarrhoea in these small mammals since fluid loss can be fatal. 

When cases become chronic, they should be thoroughly investigated using faecal and blood sampling, radiography, dietary trials, and even gut biopsy. These can be difficult and frustrating cases to treat and accurate diagnosis is essential.

Gastritis

In man, Helicobacter has been identified as a significant factor in stomach ulceration, and similarly in ferrets Helicobacter mustelae has been found to be associated with stomach ulceration and chronic bowel disease. This often causes vomiting or regurgitation but diarrhoea may also be a feature. Treatment for this disease relies on a combination of antibiotics, together with bismuth.

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis

This condition is becoming more of a problem. While food allergy has been suggested in people and dogs affected with the same disease, no such link is obvious in ferrets. In can be investigated using elimination diets. Chronic diarrhoea is the classic sign in these cases with or without mucus and sometimes also blood.