When to Contact Your Veterinarian
Ferrets will frequently have health issues, some of which are minor and some of which are serious conditions that require veterinary care. In some cases you will need to contact your veterinarian immediately. Other times you will be able to wait 24 hours to see what happens. But how do you know when to wait and when to take immediate action?
Contact your veterinarian immediately if your ferret:
- Has signs of heart or respiratory disease
- Has had trauma such as a broken bone, heavy bleeding, an eye injury, serious open wounds, mishandling and other accidents
- Has heat or cold related injuries including heat stroke or hypothermia
- Has signs of an intestinal blockage or other gastrointestinal issues
- Has signs of nervous system or muscular disease
- Has urinary problems including difficulty urinating or blood or pus in the urine
Call your veterinarian the same day if your ferret:
- Is not eating or drinking
- Has had vomiting or diarrhea multiple times
- Has a sudden change in behavior, such as extreme lethargy
- Is showing signs of pain, such as crying when being picked up
- Has a skin rash
- Is shaking his head excessively
- Is chewing or scratching at his body, especially to the point of bleeding or scabbing
Call your veterinarian within 24 hours if your ferret:
- Is eating less without any other signs of illness
- Has soft stool without any odd color or straining to defecate
- Has sudden weight loss or gain
- Has a minor injury that causes lameness for more than 24 hours
- Has moderate scratching (not compulsive or excessive)
- Has a discharge from the eye, ear or other body opening without any other signs of illness
This is only a basic listing of when to contact your veterinarian. You will need to use your judgment to determine what constitutes an emergency if any other health issues develop. Always err on the side of caution - if you aren't sure what to do, contact your veterinarian immediately.
For more information about when to contact your veterinarian, read Contact Your Veterinarian When Your Ferret Shows These Signs.
