Does my ferret have a disease?

Question

My ferret is only 10 months old but is tail hair is already whitening and I noticed today that more hair than usual falls out when I hold him. Before, no hair ever fell out... But now it's like the same amount my cats would leave on someone (it's normal for them, though, they shed; ferrets aren't supposed to). what's going on? Does he have some sort of disease?

Answer 1

Uh oh...someone needs to do their research. Of course ferrets shed!! In fact right now is prime time for shedding.

Ferrets (especially ones that are primarily white) will fluctuate in color. In other words its OK that your ferret lost some of his color in his tail. In fact some ferrets, like my Wolly-Bear, loose all of their color and can turn just about completely white. This is called "Roaning".

Don't jump to conclusions just yet. Check for balding. This is a sign of a problem.

Remember, as it is shedding season, to keep some ferret laxative or Vaseline around. You will want to give a few licks of it to your ferret twice a day to prevent hairballs.

Answer 2

Ferrets DO shed, just as a cat or dog would. How much hair is actually falling out? Is it leaving bald spots? Without seeing exactly how much fur your ferret is losing, it's hard to say what (if anything) is wrong with him. If there's no bald spots, then it's probably just shedding. They tend to change coats between summer & fall and again between winter & spring. Summer is coming to an end so it could just be a normal coat change. If you're really worried about the amount of hair loss, then take him to a vet to be checked out. Hair loss is a sign of several serious illnesses, but most of those illnesses don't start to affect ferrets until they're older (usually between 3 and 4 years of age). Your ferret is still pretty young, so I really think the hair loss is just a result of shedding and a coat change.

Answer 3

Ferrets do shed TWICE a year, more so in the spring than the fall though. Some ferrets completely change colors each time they shed. My youngest male has more white hair in his tail then he did when I got him. Last shedding cycle his tail went almost bald, but now it's the fullest of my bunch.
Have you had your ferret at the vets this year yet?
I'm a firm believer in yearly vet visits. You'd have to go to get him vaccinated anyway, right? And if you find a vet who knows his way around weezil world you can ask all kinds of questions then.

If you like you can join up at this website. It's full of people who will answer your questions. It's free, but you have to create an account.
http://www.practical-pet-care.com/

Good luck to you and your fert.

Answer 4

Some ferrets can shed most of their guard hairs in about a week, but usually that's at the beginning of summer.

Have your vet check for adrenal disease or aleutian disease, both have massive hair loss (starting with the rear half of the ferret plus the tail).

Without actually seeing how much fur is coming out it's hard to tell you what's going on.

Answer 5

Are you interior the U. S.? considering the fact this is stated that by way of regulation, to sell a ferret, it ought to be neutered and descented. it won't make then die quicker, it rather is purely an pointless technique. it rather is unlawful interior the united kingdom and the yank Ferret Associatino deems it pointless regrettably, confident ferrets are companies to disease. some like insulinoma, could be prevented by way of feeding a sturdy eating habitual, others like adrenal disease, won't have the capacity to. Adrenal is understood to be led to by way of early neutering. the final you're able to do is to be arranged for it to take place.

Answer 6

Essentially the most usual diseases ferrets get are Insulinoma and Adrenal ailment. They can contract the ailments as early as 2 12 months. Both are curable, but very expencive. There are several others too.

Answer 7

One of our ferrets has the same problem every moult only on his tail the vet said it is just the way some ferrets moult and nothing to worry about see how he goes and if you get worried pop along to the vet and see what they say.

Answer 8

have your ferret checked by the vet this is one of the main signs of a glan problem that kills ferrets there is a surgery that can be done can be expensive. usually this happens around 3 years of age but, can happen any time please see a vet.. I have 3 ferrets good luck

Answer 9

probably not, he might have an iron deficiency or something -- check his food to make sure there are vitamins and minerals --- if not, you can find some vitamins online

oh yeah, and make sure he has clean prified water everyday -- get 2 bottles and wash them really well --- my sister has lost 2 animals in the last year to cancer because of sitting water -- and she has another dog with cancer now --- she's learning