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Ferrets
Dr. N. Matthew Ellinwood, D.V.M., Ph.D.
Febuary 6, 2012
IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND LIFE SCIENCES
Taxonomy
•Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Carnivora
• Family: Mustelidae (weasels)
• Genus: Mustela
• Species: M. putorius
• Subspecies: M. p. furo
Mustelidae
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Largest family of carnivora
Catch all or true diversity
Classifications to change
Diverse size and type
Least weasel (30-50 grams)
Giant Otter
– (50-100 lbs)
Other Domesticated Mustelids
• Fur trade
– Mink
– Sable (species of marten)
– Fur trade important in western (USA)
expansion and Siberian expansion.
– Endangerment and extinction (sea
mink) result of fur trade
• Tayra
– South American mustelid kept as
household pet by indigenous peoples
as vermin control
– Wild animal certification
Origins and Ferret Domestication
• European pole cat
• Mitochondrial evidence
– 2500 YBP
• Remains to 4500 YBP
• Used for rabbiting and hunting
– Roman period
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Controlled/outlawed in many countries (California)
Ferelized in Australia and New Zealand to control rabbits
Existing ferel populations in Shetland Islands and New Zealand
Current resurgence of role in rodent control (rabbits)
– Helsinki (2009)
• Once widely used in to protect grain stores in the US
Ferrets in Popular Culture
• Da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine”
– Most likely a ferret
Popularized as Pets etc
• 1970s
• Studies indicate estimate 800,000 ferrets in
USA in 1996 (ratio to dog ownership ~1:70)
• Now considered standard pet species
• Can be used to run wires through conduits
etc.
Natural History
• Life span5-10 years
• Sexual maturity
– Hobs > 8 months
– Jills 4-12 months
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Estrous: Induced ovulators
Gestation 40-44 days (palpation at 2 weeks)
Litters 8-10 kits (atricial)
Weaning 6-8 weeks
Ferret Fancy
• The American Ferret Association (1992)
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http://www.ferret.org/index.html
8 colors
4 color patterns
3 white patterns
http://www.ferret.org/events/colors/dew.html
Caging versus House Access
• Household access
– Destruction
– Foreign body ingestion
– Trapped
• Elimination pattern
– Will use litter box
• Cage housing
– Mesh size
– Solid floor
– Enclosure/hammock
Feeding
• Obligate carnivore
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30-40% protein
15-30% fat
Higher end in pregnancy
Available commercial ferret food
Fresh water
Ad lib unless obesity an issue
Short digestive tract
Low tolerance for fiber
Sugars
Pregnancy
Food preferences set early (3 months)
Anatomy
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Sexual dimorphism (females < males)
Castration increases gill and decreases hob adult weight
Seasonal wt fluctuations (20-40%)
Anal glands (descented)
– Common in USA, restricted or unnecessary in UK/Europe
– Versus musty smell of males (androgen dependent/castration)
• Non retractable claws on 5 digit feet
• Os penis
• Sexing by anogenital distance (similar to dogs), testes,
preputial opening
• External tract shows obvious changes in estrus females
Behavior
• Weasel war dance
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xowr0vMU_U
• Dooking
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ex9AXcYR_a0
• Crepuscular
• Social animals
– Versus wild forebears
• Spring and fall molting
Diseases and Health Issues
• One half of pseudopregnant jills
– Estrus, with subsequent estrogen dependent
bone marrow suppression (can be fatal)
• Pregnancy toxemia (first time gills)
• Adrenal tumors (2-6 years – androgenic
signs)
• Insulinomas (4-5 years)
– Signs of severe blood sugar
• Lymphoma
Infectious Diseases
• Ferret approved rabies vaccination
– 3-12 months and annually
• Influenza
– Important animal model
• Animal model bibliography
– http://www.nal.usda.gov/awic/pubs/oldbib/ferretla.htm
• Canine distemper
– Ferret approved CDV vaccine on approved schedule
– Canary pox vectored vaccine available
• Aleutian disease
– Parvo virus
– Infection cause vasculitis induced by antibodies
Infectious Disease (contin)
• Bacterial
– Helicobacter mustelae (vomitting and ulcers)
– Lawsonia intracellularis
• Proliferative bowel disease (1 – 3% of exposed animals)
• Fungal
– Systemic
– External
• Parasites
– Coccidia/Cryptosporidia/Giardia, Sarcoptes, Otodectes
cynotis
– Nematodes
• No documented round or hook worm infections
• Susceptible to heartworm
Zoonosis
• Limited evidence of causative human disease
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Rabies
Sarcoptes
Trichophyton mentagrophytes (ring worm)
Influenza
Cl. perfringens
Restraint
• Stretching
– Scruffing and holding hind legs
• Will usually go limp