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

• 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

• 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

• 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)– 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

– 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• 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– Rabies– Sarcoptes– Trichophyton mentagrophytes (ring worm)– Influenza– Cl. perfringens

Restraint

• Stretching– Scruffing and holding hind legs

• Will usually go limp