Health Forum

she is scratching constantly, i want to help her out, i don't thinks it fleas because i have another ferret and he doesn't itch. so what else could make her itch? maybe dry skin? shedding? i'm not to sure.. so if you could tell me why she scratches so much and how i can help her that would awesome!

dry skin maybe because animals can get it

Have you recently washed her? Maybe there is still some soap on her skin that is irritating or she was washed too much. She could have fleas even if your other ferret doesn't have signs. Checking both critters and the cage shouldn't be pushed out of the option booth just yet. She could be having a reaction to the food, treats, bedding or even your other ferret, it could be a nervous condition, or just dry skin. I would start with the food/treats/bedding. If this started after getting something new go back to what you were using and give her a bath with mild soap in case it is the bedding. If this does not clear it up call a veterinarian. There could be health issues causing it.

Itchy skin can be caused by all sorts of things. Allergies, fleas/mites, and adrenal gland disease are only a few possibilities. It would be best to take him to your vet to see if they can find a cause.

Have you seen fleas on Mr.Waffles or your other pets? It could certainly be the cause of his itching, but certainly not the only possibility. Be careful with over the counter flea baths/treatments. Most are NOT safe for ferrets since it IS poison. I would only use a product that is recommended by your vet. Ferrets are a preferred food source by fleas due to their high body temperature, so they risk becoming anemic. Also, fleas carry nasty little bugs such as tapeworms as well as cause allergy.

Is he eating on his own? It concerns me that he is dehydrated. Dehydration can become serious VERY quickly. Make sure you monitor his fluid intake and eating habits very closely. You might want to separate him from your other ferrets for now so you can more easily monitor how much he is eating and drinking as well as his activity level. Remember ferrets need to eat every 4-6 hours to stay healthy due to their high metabolism.

You should bring him into your vet to see if they can help you figure out what is going on with Mr. Waffles. Since he is dehydrated, it might be more than just itchy skin. Also, like I mentioned, ferrets can get very sick quickly so the sooner you have him seen the better. In the meantime watch him very carefully and bring him ASAP if he gets worse.

If he begins refusing food before you can get him to a vet, there is a product called Duck Soup (no duck in it... that is just the name) available commercially. You can also make it yourself and syringe feed her if needed. Below is the recipe. Please save a copy. It is EXCELLENT for sick ferrets and you never know when you might need it.

DUCK SOUP
1/2 cup of high quality, dry ferret food

1/8 cup (approximately - about equal to the volume of one regular ice cube) of Sustical or Ensure (or equivalent liquid, nondairy food supplement, found in most grocery and drug stores in 8 oz cans. Ferrets seem to like strawberry the best but any flavor except chocolate is fine. Pour the remaining supplement into an ice cube tray and freeze. After it’s frozen, the supplement "cubes" will keep for several weeks in a plastic bag in your freezer.)

1 1/2 inch ribbon of Nutrical/Nutristat (Nutristat is available at many pet shops. It is a high calorie food supplement used for many animals)

Ferretone/Linatone - 1/2 tsp. if desired.

Place the food in a blender. Add sufficient cold water to soften. Blend thoroughly. Add more water as necessary to make a stiff paste. Stir in the Nutrical/Nutristat, and Sustical. Add Ferretone/Linatone if desired. The mixture should be the consistency of a thin paste or thick soup. (You can add more water if necessary to make a very thin mixture if you have to force-feed the ferret with an eyedropper or syringe.) You must be careful that the ferret does not inhale the food.

Microwave for about 15 - 20 seconds, until warm.

Check the temperature before you begin feeding. It should be warm, not hot. Be sure to stir it well and make sure that there are no HOT spots. (I use my finger to stir it. That way I can be sure that there are no hot spots). If your ferret is suffering from insulinoma, leave out the Ensure/Sustical, and the Nutrical/Nutristat.

Feed the ferret all he will eat or that you can make him eat comfortably. (This should be about 5 - 15 cc, depending on the size of the ferret, at each feeding. Initially you may want to limit the "soup" to 2 cc at each feeding and feed more often. You may gradually increase the amount and cut down on the frequency. A typical adult ferret will require 100 - 110 cc of food a day and 90 - 100 cc of fluids. Your vet can tell you how much to feed at any one sitting and how much total he will need each day. Feed about every 2-4 hours, and give ample water or Pedialyte along with the Duck Soup. Cover and refrigerate any left over mixture. It will keep approximately one day. Microwave to rewarm. Remember to check the temperature of any microwaved portion carefully. Parts of the mixture may feel only warm but other parts may be HOT.

Most ferrets will eat Duck Soup eagerly. It’s high in fat; has protein from the ferret chow; and vitamins and minerals from the Sustical and Nutrical (or Nutristat), plus water. Don’t make a steady diet of this after your ferret recovers. His regular food is best for long term nourishment.

As far as what to food to use, be VERY careful to use only high quality ferret food. Good nutrition is essential for these guys. Remember, expensive ferret foods are not necessarily better for ferrets if you are not aware of the ingredients. You would be surprised that most types of ferret food are NOT healthy and can cause health problems. Marshall Farms is only a mediocre food, there IS

are you bathing her often at least once a week with oatmeal shampoo for ferrets.