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Ferrets

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

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Ferrets

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  1. Ferrets Dr. N. Matthew Ellinwood, D.V.M., Ph.D. Febuary 6, 2012 Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

  2. Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Family: Mustelidae (weasels) Genus: Mustela Species: M. putorius Subspecies: M. p. furo

  3. Mustelidae • 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)

  4. 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

  5. Origins and Ferret Domestication • European pole cat • Mitochondrial evidence • 2500 YBP • Remains to 4500 YBP • Used for rabbiting and hunting • Roman period • 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

  6. Ferrets in Popular Culture • Da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine” • Most likely a ferret

  7. 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.

  8. Natural History • Life span5-10 years • Sexual maturity • Hobs > 8 months • Jills 4-12 months • Estrous: Induced ovulators • Gestation 40-44 days (palpation at 2 weeks) • Litters 8-10 kits (atricial) • Weaning 6-8 weeks

  9. Ferret Fancy • The American Ferret Association (1992) • http://www.ferret.org/index.html • 8 colors • 4 color patterns • 3 white patterns http://www.ferret.org/events/colors/dew.html

  10. 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

  11. Feeding • Obligate carnivore • 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)

  12. Anatomy • 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

  13. 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

  14. 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

  15. 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

  16. 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

  17. Zoonosis • Limited evidence of causative human disease • Rabies • Sarcoptes • Trichophyton mentagrophytes (ring worm) • Influenza • Cl. perfringens

  18. Restraint • Stretching • Scruffing and holding hind legs • Will usually go limp

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