My ferrets are sick, having fits, and unsteady on their legs. Why?

A ferret that tires out quickly is concerning of an insulinoma, which is a common type of tumor that ferrets get that can cause low blood sugar. This can be easily diagnosed by a veterinarian and there are some treatment options. You can also test this at home by giving her a little karo syrup, or honey and seeing if that increases her energy. If it does, then it's likely to be an insulinoma and you should take her to the vet as soon as possible. Another possible cause is an obstruction in the intestine. Ferrets are well known to eat things that they shouldn't, which can get stuck in the intestines and cause them to feel very down like this. This is also something that needs veterinary treatment, so it's best to take Panda to a vet that treats ferrets within the next 24 hours. I hope that helps and Panda gets better soon.

This can be very serious. I suggest you get him to a vet for an exam. This is not likely an injured leg (although possible). This sounds more like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) from an insulin tumor (insulinoma) or an adrenal tumor however, there are some other possibilities too. You can't know what to do for him until you find out why he has these symptoms. He needs a vet exam. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951368 I don't know if these clinics will treat ferrets but you can call them and find out: https://www.ashevillehumane.org/resources/vet-care-assistance https://opendoorveterinarycare.com/services/

Rub a small amount of Karo syrup on his gums. If he perks up, offer a meal and then have him examined by your veterinarian. He may be having hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episodes that could lead to behavioral issues. Most general practice vets should be able to examine and treat Hades.

Hi, I don't know your ferret's age but there are different illnesses that he could be suffering from. Younger ferrets can have GI signs if you see any vomiting or diarrhea or not wanting to eat. There is also a disease relating to the pancreas where they get low blood sugar despite eating, and that can make them tired. They also may have seizures, so be on the lookout for abnormal activity. i would take him to the vet for some blood work and maybe an x ray to see what is going on. There is nothing I can tell you to do from home for illnesses in a ferret. Good luck, i hope he gets better soon!

Thanks for reaching out about Willy and including a photo. Age is middle age and not considered old. Just because he did not respond to Karo syrup does not mean he doesn't have an insulinoma. But other conditions possible. A veterinary visit is recommended, but probably sooner than late next week. Monitor appetite and body score if you can. Good luck.

I'm sorry to hear that Phyllis has been unwell. It is possible that Phyllis acquired some type of gastrointestinal infection or parasite from Oswald, resulting in lethargy and soft stool. Are the two ferrets getting along? It is also possible that her symptoms may be related to stress if she is unhappy with the new roommate or if they are fighting. In either case, I would suggest taking her to a vet to perform a physical exam and test her stool to rule out a medical issue, and get her the treatment she needs to get her feeling better as soon as possible. I hope this helps! Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Boop by Petco! This may be due to conditions such as pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal foreign body ingestion and obstruction, among other possibilities. I suggest other diagnostics are performed at this point such as abdominal ultrasound and labwork. It is crucial to find out exactly what is going on so that therapy can be used based on the specific condition. In the meantime, they may be able to prescribe anti-nausea medications as that may be why she is not eating well. Best of luck!

Thanks for reaching out about Phoenix. Pawing at the mouth is a common sign of nausea and low blood glucose in ferrets. This is often a problem in ferrets older than three years of age. There are multiple causes of low blood sugar including an insulinoma (pancreatic tumor producing too much insulin), intestinal malabsorption through the intestinal tract, not eating due to other problems (pain, dental disease, metabolic disorders, other) just to list a few. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. If this is an insulinoma, there are surgical and medical options to stabilize. For now, try offering a little Karo syrup of maple syrup to the gums and then encourage to eat the normal kibble. Good luck.

I agree it is difficult to pinpoint what is the problem with Fera. I wonder if she had any episodes of vomiting or weight loss, or has she been sneezing at all ? Any changes in her appetite ? Has she had any blood tests done ? If you can I would recommend to chose to go for further investigations, as the symptoms are quite vague but at the same time we don’t want Fera to become too poorly ! In order to answer your question, a consultation with one of our exotics vet might be your second option, providing as many details as possible would help formulating a differential list of conditions.

I am so sorry to hear that Lola isn't doing well. There are many different things that can cause lethargy in ferrets. However, what you describe makes me concerned that this isn't lethargy or weakness, but possibly something more concerning such as trauma. The bloody urine makes me very concerned that there may have been trauma that you didn't witness. I am worried that she may have injured her spinal cord and that could be why her hind legs aren't working. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. In the mean time make sure to keep her well hydrated. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.