Even if your pet ferret is active all the time, it also gets sick just like us.
But because they usually hide their symptoms, it becomes challenging for the owners to know if it's sick or not.
Unlike cats and dogs, they become sick easily.
Here are some symptoms you need to be aware of before it's too late.
Let's start with the physical changes.
A sick ferret usually shows weight loss, abnormal hair loss (especially on the base by the rump, at the shoulders, on top of the feet and head), lump or bumps, distended belly (large belly out of proportion for the rest of the body), difficulty breathing or labored breathing, rear-end or generalized weakness, injury, scabs, red or bleeding gums, unusually smelly ears, black debris in or around the ears and winking or squinting one eye.
Excessive sneezing, vomiting, skin lesions and eye or nasal discharge are also symptoms to look out for.
Behavioral symptoms include lethargy, constipation, diarrhea or dirty bottom, drooling or pawing frantically at mouth, straining to urinate, poor appetite, teeth grinding.
Also consider staring off into space, lying down every few steps, sleeping more than usual, playing less than usual, sudden aggression towards other ferrets, sexual behavior (mounting) in neutered males, excessive scratching and itchiness.
The symptoms above can be found in different illnesses.
Your ferret may be diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, adrenal disease, epizotic catarral enteritis (ECE), pancreatic cancer, lymphosarcoma, gastric ulcers or other diseases.
What's next, you ask.
The most sensible thing to do is to take him to a veterinarian.
A combination of all the symptoms above can indicate different kinds of diseases.
It's okay to check the internet for information or ask other people but do not take charge by making assumptions, freaking out or using the medication advised by a website.
It's best that you trust your veterinarians diagnosis and treatment.