From:
Karen Purcell, DVM
Date: 2001-05-07 10:46:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] itchy, skinny ferret
Jayson,
You wrote:
> Buddy the ferret is acting quite fine (eating, playing, being silly,
> etc, etc) but he started itching more than usual about a month ago.
>
> I contacted my vet, we determined it was not fleas and he suggested
> childrens Benadryl to see what happened. I tried it and it seemed to
> work a little bit, but I did not want to continue use after about a
> week of time since it didn't seem to be a one time, permanent thing.
>
> Things did not improve all the much. 2 weeks ago I bathed him, with
> his usual shampoo/conditioner, and a lot of hair came out in the tub,
> not in clumps, just all over. I thought it was unusual and it scared
> me. I researched and read where normally ferrets shed their winter
> coat and it is not unusual to have hair loss. I stopped worrying.
>
> His hair loss is not in spots or any particular place, but you can
> still pull out hairs with your finger tips real easily. Is spring
> shedding something that goes on for a long period of time?
>
I've had it continue a month or more in some of my heavy coated
ferrets.
> A few days after the bath, I thought he looked and felt like he had
> lost weight. That was as far I was willing to let things go. I called
> the vet and made an appointment. After being examined, no temp, fecal
> was negative, no ear mites......the vet discovered a very small spot
> on his skin above his left leg close to the chest. This is the area
> where his main scratching seems to be concentrated.
>
> We talked about mast cell tumors and he said it did not look like
> that yet, but it could be. He gave a small injection of prednisone
> (sp?) and said let's watch him over the weekend and see if that
> helps. It has not. He still is very itchy.
>
Well, that could still be shedding. Is he actually breaking the
skin over that "spot"? I've used benadryl in the past for mast cell
related itchiness, but only until I could surgically remove the mass.
> Also, he has indeed lost weight, about 2/10ths of a pound. I read
> where weight loss is normal this time of the year as well, but is
> it? He weighed in around 2 pounds at his last check up which was
> about 2 months ago.
>
Most ferrets lose weight in the spring, certainly 2 of my 4 have
(of course, I have one ferret that never loses weight without a
strict exercise regimen ;-)
> SNIP>
> I do not want his quality of life to deteriorate and I feel that this
> itching is making him really uncomfortable and partially to blame as
> to why he is losing weight because he can't sleep real well, and no
> matter what he is doing he has to stop and scratch.
<SNIP>
> Anyone that has any suggestions or ideas, or has seen this in their
> pet, please let me know what you think.
>
Well, I think you should take off that spot to make sure it is not
a mast cell tumor. Also, if he is shedding heavily, he could be
perfectly normal.
Hope this helps,
-Dr. Karen
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