Like any other living organism, your furry little friend is also prone to various diseases such as intestinal foreign bodies, diarrhea, parasites, heart disease, and different kinds of tumors.
Diarrhea in ferrets is a pervasive problem. It can be life-threatening, so you must take action against it if diagnosed.
By staying up to date with practices to take care of your ferret, you will relieve both your ferret and the litter box caretaker.
Symptoms
You should watch for the following symptoms: blood in his stool, blood in the litter box, incontinence, and lethargy.
You might also notice signs of infection like respiratory infections, bacterial infections, or fungal infections.
If these symptoms are present, you should take your ferret ASAP to the vet for a proper diagnosis.
Causes
Unsufficient Nutrition
Ferrets that are not adequately fed are more prone to developing diarrhea. That’s why you need to provide high-quality food.
This will ensure that your pet gets the nutrition he needs and prevent his intestines from becoming too full.
Obesity
Another one is obesity. Ferrets are obligate carnivores so they need to eat meat. Their diets can be high in fat, depending on their age and activity level.
To keep your ferrets healthily, give them high-quality food as well as a healthy amount of exercise.
Allergic Reactions
Diarrhea can also happen when your ferret has an allergic reaction to a particular food.
Do some research first and see if any alternative foods that your ferret can eat instead. This can prevent him from developing severe food allergies in the future.
Over-Feeding
Another thing that causes diarrhea in ferrets is over-feeding. Ferrets are omnivorous animals, so they need food to supplement their diets.
As mentioned earlier, a good diet, coupled with regular exercise and ample play, will ensure that your ferret remains healthy.
If you suspect that your ferret has been overeating, you can ask your vet to prescribe a special diet for your pet.
Growth Spurts
Other causes of diarrhea in ferrets include growth spurts during the growing season, known as the spring season, and exceptionally high temperatures.
Food Poisoning
It is also possible for diarrhea in ferrets to be caused by food poisoning. Though very rare, it does happen.
Some everyday food items that can cause sickness in ferrets include chocolate, onions, and garlic.
You must know precisely what is in the food you give your ferret to avoid the possibility of this occurring.
Remedies
Now let’s discuss some of the ways to deal with this problem. You can follow these tips for a quick and effective cure.
- First of all, make sure that the ferret diet contains the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Ferrets are carnivores. Make sure you know their exact nutrition requirements.
- Ferrets need vitamins, minerals, and other supplements to keep themselves healthy. Make sure to give them the right supplements regularly. These supplements will increase the energy level and will also prevent them from getting lethargic. Make sure you buy organic food, and stay away from frozen and canned food, as they have chemicals that can harm your pets.
- Give your pet small meals and avoid giving them large amounts of food in one go. Also, keep clean water on hand. Ferrets will get dehydrated quickly if you don’t provide them with enough water.
- Owners should additionally opt for dry kibble that contains ferret pellets and small amounts of meat. This type of food is highly digestible and can help in reducing the occurrence of diarrhea in ferrets.
- Ferrets who suffer from diarrhea can be treated with medicine. Care should, however, be taken in administering the medication since some of these remedies for diarrhea in ferrets may have side effects.
If you notice that your ferret doesn’t feel well or behaves “weird”, consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.
VERDICT
One of the most critical aspects of providing a healthy life for ferrets is providing clean water. Water bowls should be cleaned regularly so that it remains clean all the time and thus prevents diseases.
Make sure that you feed your ferrets a balanced diet consisting of high-quality meat and dry kibbles.
Diarrhea in ferrets can be fatal sometimes. Therefore, you must give your pets immediate medical attention if they show signs of weakness and dehydration.
Always consult your vet before administering medicine to your ferrets.
