This ferret is cared for at the Au Furet Practice in Échichens, known for its exotic-pet expertise in the Morges, Lausanne and La Côte area
The ferret as a pet in Switzerland
History
The ferret — a domestic animal?
The ferret is a small mammal belonging to the mustelid family, and therefore strictly carnivorous, like the weasel, the stoat, the polecat, the beech marten, the pine marten, the mink, and so on…..
But unlike the rest of this family, the ferret is not found in the wild. The first traces of the ferret go back more than 2,000 years, and it is extremely hard to pin down its first appearance with any certainty. What is certain, though, is that the ferret was domesticated very long ago and has had — or still has — several uses:
Rabbit hunting, thanks to its shape that lets it slip into burrows
Rodent hunting on English and American farms and on ships — and, ever since, mascot of the Massachusetts Colonial Navy!
Rat hunting during plague epidemics
And more recently:
In industry, mainly to run wires through long pipes
In fur farming
In animal experimentation for medical purposes (chiefly to study the influenza virus, human flu)
In the English game of seeing who can keep 2 ferrets down their trouser legs the longest…
Nowadays it is also increasingly kept as a pet, so much so that in some countries it is already the 3rd most popular pet after the dog and the cat!
There are said to be more than 5 million ferrets in the USA.
Its nature as a rabbit predator has faded somewhat over time through selective breeding for more docile ferrets.
Personality
CharacteristicsThe ferret is, then, a carnivore of the mustelid family. The male weighs 1 to 2 kg and the female, lighter, 600 to 900 g. It is endearing, playful, funny and curious; it will make a fuss of you when you get home, and follows you everywhere. Its mischievous character quickly wins people over. It sleeps deeply and a great deal (up to 20 hours a day), but adapts without trouble to your schedule if you get it used to it. It loves sleeping in hammocks, or slipping under the blankets for its nap, or under the rugs, or into hollow tubes. It cannot jump high, but it makes leaps of more than 1 m in length.
Training
Yes, really — it is quite possible to train it well; it learns its name very quickly, but stubborn as it can be, it sometimes pretends to have forgotten it. It quickly becomes very clean (if trained young) and uses a cat litter tray to relieve itself. As a rule it adapts easily to other animals, except rabbits (even that is debatable — and although the rabbit is the prey of the ferret-predator, I have seen some living happily side by side).
Take care
It cannot go outside unsupervised: its curiosity would take it too far to find its way back home, and it would not survive.
It loves getting up to mischief; although this is more often a source of laughter, it does call for a certain vigilance while the ferret is roaming the flat: you must, for example, take great care not to crush it if it is hidden under a cushion or a rug, or to trap it in a door closed too quickly (remember, it follows you everywhere!). ‘Ferret staircases’ — the accidental stacking of objects that lets the ferret climb to dangerous heights — are also to be avoided, and ornaments or other objects that could harm it should be kept out of its reach.
In short, the ferret is a true pet — one that will soon grow bored if you neglect it…
It is very endearing and affectionate, brings a great deal of life into your home, and poses no problem at all, especially for those who have done their reading on this little animal. With a good lifestyle, a suitable diet and the necessary care, the ferret can live up to 8 years.
A likeness?
Is the ferret like a dog or a cat?
Neither one nor the other.
Compared with a dog, the ferret does not need to be taken outside, and cannot be trained as well as a perfectly trained dog. On the other hand, it is just as clingy and attached to its owner, and it loves to play too.
It resembles the cat even less: it is far less independent, and has a more possessive character. It is an animal that cannot go outside — too curious, it would wander off and get lost.
Compared with the other exotic pets, it has a strong character and is not timid.
Physiology
Nutrition
It eats often, because its intestines are very short. That is why it should have free access to food and water. Good-quality ferret or kitten kibble, high in fat and with about 30% protein, is perfectly suitable as a complete food. It loves fruit, meat (chicken, ham) and yoghurt. These foods should be given in moderation, or even very sparingly, as they cause digestive upsets.
Sexuality
It reaches sexual maturity at 8 to 12 months, at the start of the spring following birth. An unmated female can develop a continuous heat, which leads to a heavy secretion of oestrogens and causes the bone marrow to give out. This condition is fatal. To avoid this aplastic anaemia syndrome there are two options: spaying, or letting the jill carry a litter (taking care to find foster homes for the young ferrets even before they are born).
Physiological data
Its coat is albino (white) or polecat-patterned, with every possible variation, from cream to caramel.
It has 30 milk teeth and 34 permanent teeth.
The ferret’s heart rate is much higher than a human’s and hovers around 200 to 400 beats per minute (human: about 60–80 beats/min at rest). Its breathing rate hovers around 33 to 36 breaths/min.
Weight: male 1–2 kg and female 600–950 g
Size ~ 50 cm
Lifespan 5–7 years, max 10 years
Body temperature 38.8°C
Sexual maturity 6–12 months
Reproductive lifespan 2–5 years
Gestation 42 +/- 2 days
Number of young per litter 1–18 (8 on average)
Birth weight 6–12 g
Eyes open at 34 days
Weaning 6–8 weeks
Amount of food eaten 140–190 g/day
Amount of water drunk 75–100 ml/day
Environment and care
Ideal temperature: 4–18°C, with 30°C the absolute maximum!
Humidity: 40–65%
For ferrets not yet weaned, a temperature of 15°C is ideal.
Food: not raw, 30–40% protein and 18–30% fat
Bathing should be done at most once a month!
The ferret eats 9 to 10 meals a day, so leave its kibble available at all times.
Illnesses
The ferret is susceptible to distemper, against which it can be vaccinated. Rabies is likewise a deadly danger to it. Various illnesses or accidents can also affect it, not least heat stroke: the ferret has no sweat glands and cannot shed excess heat, which is why it is very prone to dehydration above 32°C of ambient temperature… Cooling it down and keeping it out of great summer heat are essential measures to keep it alive!
Of course, all sorts of other illnesses or troubles can arise in the ferret, just as in other pets or in people! It is worth repeating, though, how serious aplastic anaemia is in the jill in heat — and that it is fatal.
Hyperadrenocorticism in the ferret
Hyperadrenocorticism is a serious disease that affects many species, ferrets among them.
It is caused by an overactivity of the adrenal glands, the small glands that sit above the two kidneys. These glands secrete hormones — in short, cortisol, adrenaline and sex hormones.
Whereas in the dog, hyperadrenocorticism causes the symptoms of Cushing’s disease (a distended abdomen, thin skin with blackheads, increased thirst and urination) owing to a rise in cortisol, in the ferret it is rather the sex hormones that are markedly raised. That is why the sick ferret — even (and especially!) if neutered or spayed — will show symptoms linked to sexuality: a vulva swollen as if in heat for a female, little drops of urine frequently left about for a male, and other symptoms associated with heat, along with a symmetrical hair loss, first on the tail and then spreading quickly over the flanks, back and nape. The ferret is abnormally tired but does not otherwise seem to suffer from its condition.
The origin of the disease
Whereas in the dog the origin of hyperadrenocorticism lies more often at the level of the pituitary than directly on the adrenals, in the ferret most cases have their origin directly on the glands: hyperplasia, or even benign or malignant tumours. One or both glands may be affected.
Aggravating factors
Early neutering or spaying (at 6 weeks of age) is recognised as promoting the appearance of this condition in adulthood. Under the effect of the operation at this young age, sexual stem cells differentiate and migrate along with the adrenal glands. Other factors such as concurrent illnesses, or a nutritional or husbandry shortcoming, can influence the health of the adrenals.
Predisposed ferrets
All those that have been neutered or spayed early, and so often ferrets of American origin. The symptoms begin in adulthood, often after the age of 3. Slightly more common in females; no colour predisposition is found.
Diagnosis
Clinical — in Switzerland it is, so to speak, not possible otherwise. In the USA, certain blood assays of androgen-type values are used. Ultrasound may occasionally be of some help. Measuring cortisol, or the stimulation tests used in the dog, make no sense here.
Treatment
The only worthwhile treatment is surgery. No drug therapy will be satisfactory.
The surgery consists of removing the diseased gland. Easier if the left gland is affected, it is far harder if the right one is involved: the right gland is closely bound to the vena cava, and, moreover, far more so than a normal gland (because of its increased size). Often it is both glands that are affected. In that case, one gland is removed in full (either the less diseased one, or the left one, which is easier to excise completely) and half of the other is removed (if it is the right one, by a special technique). The ferret cannot live without adrenal glands, which is why part must be left.
Complications
Besides the surgical risks (anaesthesia, and bleeding more often than not), post-operative complications can be met with: infection, wound complications, and above all marked lethargy. To counter a degree of lethargy, a cortisone injection can be given to kick-start the remaining part of the adrenal after surgery. Then there are also the risks that depend on the animal’s clinical state: aplastic anaemia in the female even when spayed, over-large prostatic cysts, and so on.
Prognosis
Relatively good; it also depends on the nature of the condition: a carcinoma is of course of very poor prognosis, whereas a simple hyperplasia is more heartening. Where both glands were affected, a risk of recurrence after some months must be considered.
Differential diagnoses
- Tail alopecia: seasonal alopecia
- Body alopecia: to be told apart from other skin conditions, parasites, allergies, fungal infections, and so on
- Swollen vulva after spaying: a reactivated ovarian remnant, a uterus that was not removed
- Prostate problems: other prostate diseases, tumour, abscess, and so on
In conclusion, if imports of American ferrets increase, we shall meet this condition more and more often in Europe. It is interesting, moreover, to note that in the USA it is the most common reason for ferret consultations after vaccinations!
Adoption
For those who decide to adopt ferrets
In Switzerland, a few press articles report on the craze for buying ferrets, in order to discredit them as pets. Some people also have preconceived ideas about ferrets. The criticisms that come up most often are their bad smell, their tendency to bite, and possibly their physical condition, which must be watched closely (distemper vaccines, regular care, and above all the problem of heat in females). It does happen that poorly informed people acquire ferrets, realise what they involve, and at best rehome them at a shelter or at worst release them into the wild, where they cause damage if they do not die first. Cases like these must stop, so here is some quick advice:
1) Before adopting ferrets
First and foremost, you must learn about this animal. Its characteristics, its needs, its character, its regular care, its diet, its illnesses.
Above all, you must be aware of the following points:
- The ferret can live up to 10–12 years,
- Its sebaceous glands give off a characteristic smell that is not unpleasant but may not be to everyone’s taste,
- It is strictly an indoor animal,
- Attached to their owners, some ferrets might nip strangers,
- It is very important to manage the female’s heat to avoid an aplastic anaemia that can prove fatal,
- The male smells a little stronger than the female,
- Susceptible to distemper, it is vaccinated, especially if dogs live in the same household,
- It can live perfectly well on kitten kibble,
- It sleeps a lot but hates being alone when awake (it loves company),
- It is ill-suited to young children (it might nip them or knock them over by dashing between their legs).
So, for those who do not like its smell, give up on the ferret! Removing the anal glands changes nothing — although their secretion is indeed dreadful (like the stink bombs of everyone’s childhood…) — because the ferret’s smell comes from its sebaceous glands spread all over its body, which have nothing to do with the anal glands, which sit around the anus. What is more, it is strictly forbidden in Switzerland to carry out this kind of operation for purely cosmetic reasons!
A piece of advice before adopting a ferret: you should visit some and have a sniff at private homes. A great deal of information can also be found on the internet.
Once you have read, seen and smelled everything about this likeable animal, if you still reckon the ferret to be your ideal companion, then you reach the next stage.
2) Finding ferrets to adopt
Finding ferrets to adopt is not always simple, and in truth they will more often be for sale. The advantage of a sale is that it discourages ill-considered adoptions somewhat. The best season to look remains the spring. The ideal age to adopt baby ferrets is around 2 months. They are most easily found at private homes. They will cost about 150 to 250.- per ferret. The financial costs of keeping them are no higher than for a cat.
A few ways to find ferrets in Switzerland:
- Through the press, adverts, articles with references, the internet
- Through private individuals (found by keeping your ears open)
- Through vets who know a little about ferrets (there are some!)
- Through shelters or animal parks
- In France, from private individuals or pet shops. Careful — remember the rabies vaccine in order to import them into Switzerland.
Then, do not forget to register your ferrets with your canton’s veterinary service!
The Swiss-law corner
Certain administrative measures are compulsory:
The agreement of the cantonal veterinary service, which, after a visit, issues a keeping permit for wild animals. The ferret does not exist in the wild, but is still regarded as such under Swiss law.
The minimum cage dimensions must be respected, namely 4 m² for a pair of ferrets, and 0.5 m² more for each additional ferret. A minimum height of 60 cm is required.
Third-party liability insurance is required.
The import of ferrets is subject to FSVO conditions: www.blv.admin.ch
From the FSVO
In Switzerland, keeping ferrets is subject to authorisation by the veterinary office of the canton concerned. Ferrets should only be entrusted to people who are well informed about these animals’ specific needs.
You can only claim a keeping permit if you can show a certificate of competence — that is, you must have taken a course on ferret keeping recognised by the FSVO, or have acquired the necessary knowledge during a work placement. The requirement to produce this keeping permit is a way for the authorities to make sure that ferret owners have the basic knowledge required.
Even once you have the keeping permit and the animal itself, you must go on learning about the ferret’s particular needs. You can read specialist works, available in any good pet shop or bookshop.
It is also advisable to join a ferret-lovers’ association and to share knowledge with other keepers. You can, in addition, seek advice from experienced owners should you run into problems.
Ferrets are sociable animals that need company: a ferret should therefore not be raised on its own, but within a group of at least two individuals. Swiss law, moreover, requires that at least 2 individuals be kept.