Ferrets can make great pets, but it is important to know the pros and cons of owning one before you take the leap into ferret ownership. Most of the ferrets in the U.S. come from Marshall Farms. They are all spayed or neutered and de-scented at a young age before leaving the farm. Although they have their scent glands removed, ferrets still maintain their unique “musky” odor, so it is important that you and your family are comfortable with this smell. Marshall Farms ferrets have two green dots tattooed in their ear for identification. Owning a ferret is illegal in several states; however, Texas is not one of them.

What are Ferrets Like?

Ferrets are more than just fuzzy, cuddly creatures, although some do love to cuddle. Ferrets are also carnivores with sharp teeth and claws. They are very athletic and active and need a lot of entertainment. Ferrets manage to get into a lot of things if they are not properly supervised and can make a mess even if they are litter-box-trained. They have been known to chew wires, tear up carpet and damage furniture.

How Do You Care for a Ferret?

Ferrets require specially formulated ferret food. Even though they thrive on a high-protein diet typical of a true carnivore, they still like sweets (e.g., raisins). Sweets, however, should not be fed to ferrets, except in special situations as advised by a veterinarian (e.g., blood draws or if diagnosed with low blood sugar). They often drink from a sipper bottle.

Owning one means their cage needs to be cleaned regularly, as does their litter box. The cage should contain multiple tiers and be as large as possible to encourage their natural behavior. They are very inquisitive and good at escaping. They should not be allowed out of the cage without supervision as they can get lost, stuck in small places or into things that could be dangerous to them. Many people tend to have more than one ferret at a time because they are social animals.

Just like dogs and cats, ferrets also need to see the veterinarian regularly. A new pet exam is recommended to ensure they do not have parasites, are up-to-date on their vaccinations and are started on heartworm prevention. The veterinary visit will also help you know how to care for your new pet. After the new pet exam, annual exams and vaccinations are also recommended. You will need to find a veterinarian who is comfortable treating ferrets, which may be someone different than the veterinarian who sees your dog or cat. There are special vaccinations just for ferrets, like a ferret distemper vaccine. Ferrets also are vaccinated for rabies with only one type of rabies vaccine. Both of these vaccines are currently recommended annually.

What Health Issues do Ferrets Face?

Ferrets, like cats and dogs, can also get heartworm disease, and for ferrets, just one worm can be fatal, so they should be kept on heartworm preventatives, which can be obtained from your veterinarian. Like for cats, the heartworm test is a little complicated, as ferrets only have low worm burdens, meaning they have a small number of worms, generally one to two. Special heartworm testing needs to be done. Also, if they get heartworm disease, the worms cannot be treated as they are in dogs. They have to be removed using specialty equipment or managed medically.

Unfortunately, ferrets can get several types of cancer, including adrenal tumors, insulinomas and lymphoma.

Adrenal Tumors

Adrenal tumors often cause a bilateral symmetricalSymmetrical arrangement, as of an organism or a body part, along a central axis, so that the body is divided into equivalent right and left halves by only one plane. hair loss over their tail and hind end. They are tumors that occur in a gland (adrenal gland) that sits just above the kidneys. These can often be managed medically with an implant under the skin. Surgical removal is often the treatment of choice, as this may be curative.

Insulinomas

Insulinomas are a tumor of the pancreas and cause increased production of the hormone insulin. This in turn causes low blood sugar. Affected ferrets usually become weak, cold and non-responsive if not treated. This is a medical emergency and cannot wait. If your ferret becomes limp, non-responsive or has a seizure, seek veterinary care immediately. If it is after-hours, find an emergency clinic to treat him or her. Insulinomas can often be managed with oral medication; however, surgical removal is often the treatment of choice.

Lymphoma

Ferrets who have lymphoma can present with many different signs. A thorough medical exam and appropriate testing will help diagnose this type of cancer.

Because these diseases are more common in the older ferrets (4 to 8 years), new procedures and medication have become available to help with these diseases. Consult with your ferret’s veterinarian for more information.

Ferrets can make great pets. Make sure you understand what you are getting into, and know that they require veterinary care throughout their lifespan. Consider purchasing pet insurance to help with the costs of medical treatments that may arise with age.