Distichiasis in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 4‐year‐old intact male ferret was presented to the Ophthalmology Service of the Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals of Utrecht University with chronic blepharospasm, epiphora, and conjunctivitis of the right eye. Examination of the eye revealed mild conjunctivitis and three hairs protruding from the openings of meibomian glands in the upper eyelid, providing the clinical diagnosis of distichiasis. The distichia were removed by transconjunctival unipolar electrocautery. Recovery was uneventful, but the original signs recurred 10 weeks after surgery. Ophthalmic examination revealed another distichia at a different location in the same eyelid and it was removed by full‐thickness wedge excision. Histopathological examination failed to reveal the exact origin of the distichia. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of distichiasis in a ferret.     

Mycobacterium genavense Infection in a Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

Mycobacterium genavense infection was diagnosed in an adult ferret with ptosis of the left eye, a proliferative lesion of the conjunctiva of the nictitating membrane, conjunctival swelling, and tumefaction of the periorbital tissues with a watery ocular discharge and the presence of a retrobulbar mass. The diagnosis was based on characteristic cytology of the retrobulbar mass and left mandibular lymph node that revealed granulomatous inflammation. Ziehl-Neelsen staining showed the presence of positive acid-fast bacilli in the cytoplasm of the macrophages. The diagnosis was confirmed by sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene amplified by using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction from a fresh lymph node biopsy. Therapy with marbofloxacin, rifampicin, and clarithromycin was recommended for 6 months and after this period, the veterinarian who was treating the ferret reported the disappearance of clinical signs. Six months after the end of the antibiotic treatment, the symptoms described previously reoccurred. Confirmatory laboratory tests were not performed but a recurrence of M genavense infection was suspected and the veterinarian, in agreement with the owner, euthanized the ferret.     

Reference values for selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests of the ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

PURPOSE: To perform selected ophthalmic diagnostic tests in healthy ferrets with the aim of establishing normal physiological reference values for this species. METHOD: A total of 15 healthy, unrelated ferrets were used to test most of the parameters in this investigation. Eight of the 15 ferrets were used for central corneal thickness evaluation. Ages varied from 1.5 to 6 years of age. Selected diagnostic ocular tests were performed including Schirmer tear test, tonometry using an applanation tonometer (Tonopen), central corneal thickness using an ultrasonic pachymeter (Sonomed, Micropach, Model 200P +) and culture of the normal conjunctival bacterial flora. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Staphylococcus sp. and Corynebacterium sp. were isolated from healthy conjunctival and eyelid margins, suggesting they are normal constituents of the conjunctival flora of the ferret. Results for selected ocular diagnostic tests investigated here for the ferret eye were as follows: intraocular pressure: 14.50 +/- 3.27 mmHg; Schirmer tear test: 5.31 +/- 1.32 mm/min; central corneal thickness: 0.337 +/- 0.020 mm. No statistically significant differences between ages or genders were found for any of the results. The reference data for the ocular tests obtained in this investigation will help veterinary ophthalmologists to more accurately diagnose ocular diseases in the ferret. Knowledge of these reference values will be particularly useful to diagnose discrete or unusual pathological changes of the ferret eye.     

Rhabdomyosarcoma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 5-year-old spayed male ferret showed a subcutaneous mass in the right lateral thoracic wall. Microscopic examination revealed that the neoplasm had proliferated in the subcutis with infiltration into the surrounding tissues. A packed bundle of large polymorphic neoplastic cells, containing abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and a round to ovoid, occasionally bizarre nucleus, were arranged interwoven. The neoplasm had metastasized to the right axillary lymph node. The neoplastic cells were intensively positive for vimentin, desmin and myoglobin. Skeletal muscle type creatine phosphokinase-positive granules were detected in the cytoplasm. Ultrastructurally, various amounts of disorganized myofibrils with focal density resembling the Z-band were shown in the cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells. The neoplasia was diagnosed as rhabdomyosarcoma.     

Cutaneous melanoma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 4-year-old spayed female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was clinically evaluated for a slightly raised subcutaneous mass in the dorsal lumbar area. The mass was surgically excised and submitted for histopathologic evaluation. Histologically, the mass was composed of closely packeted large, atypical, polygonal to spindle-shaped cells arranged in sheets and short bundles. A few cells contained variable amounts of granular, brown to black intracytoplasmic pigment. Warthin-Starry and Fontana-Masson silver stains demonstrated variable numbers of fine black intracytoplasmic granules in most cells. The atypical cells stained positively for vimentin and S100 protein and negatively for cytokeratin and Melan A. Ultrastructurally, the neoplastic cells contained intracytoplasmic melanosomes in different stages of development. Compound melanosomes were not identified. To our knowledge, this report documents the first case of a spontaneous cutaneous melanoma in the ferret.     

Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Trachea in a Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 4-year-old, castrated, male domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated for a possible upper respiratory tract infection and wheezing for approximately 3 weeks. Supportive care for a suspected upper respiratory tract infection was initiated; however, the patient became progressively more dyspneic over the next 48 hours. A possible tracheal mass was identified upon thoracic radiographic imaging of the ferret. Tracheoscopy and a computed tomography scan of the neck and thorax confirmed the presence of a tracheal mass approximately 3 cm from the larynx obstructing 80% of the tracheal lumen. Rather than pursuing surgical resection, the owners elected humane euthanasia. An adenosquamous carcinoma of the trachea was diagnosed after histologic analysis. This tumor type has been diagnosed in the lungs of ferrets that were experimentally exposed to carcinogens found in cigarette smoke; however, there are no previous reports of this or any other tumor type associated with the ferret trachea. A tracheal mass causing a partial upper airway obstruction should be considered within the differential disease diagnosis list when a ferret is presented with dyspnea.     

Persistent fetal intraocular vasculature in the European ferret (Mustela putorius): clinical and histological aspects

Objective To describe the clinical and histological appearance of persistent fetal intraocular vasculature in a colony of ferrets.
Design Prospective study.
Animals studied Eighty-six European ferrets ( Mustela putorius ).
Procedure Both eyes of 76 genetically related progeny and 10 breeding, adult, colony-raised ferrets were studied using a slit lamp biomicroscope and an indirect ophthalmoscope. Ferret progeny were examined after eyelid opening at 5–6 weeks of age, and at 12 months of age. After euthanasia, globes were enucleated and examined histologically.
Results Persistent fetal intraocular vasculature was evident in 21 progeny ferrets at 5–6 weeks of age and in three mature progenitor ferrets. Clinical appearance of diminutive vasculature was characterized by focal remnants of the posterior tunica vasculosa lentis, muscae volitantes, and an occluded hyaloid artery extending from the optic papilla and terminating in the anterior vitreous body. Extensive persistent vasculature was characterized by a perfused hyaloid artery, vasa hyaloidea propria and posterior tunica vasculosa lentis, posterior cortical and capsular cataract, and proliferation of fibrovascular tissue along the posterior lens capsule. Fetal vasculature persisted in 7 of 21 progeny ferrets at one year of age and in three progenitor ferrets. Results of histologic examination showed persistence of the hyaloid vasculature, proliferation of retrolental fibrovascular tissue with osseous metaplasia, posterior capsular and cortical cataract, and occasional retinal detachment.
Conclusions Persistent fetal intraocular vasculature in ferrets appears similar clinically and histologically to persistent fetal intraocular vasculature reported in humans and dogs. The ferret may be a suitable animal model for vasculogenic mechanisms of persistent fetal intraocular vasculature and for evaluating vasoinhibitory growth factors and angiostatic test compounds.     

Two unusual tumours in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

This case report describes the clinical history, diagnosis and treatment of a ferret with a tumour of the right adrenal gland and insulinomas of the pancreas. Histopathology of both lesions confirmed the diagnoses. Clinical signs of the adrenal gland tumour were a swollen vulva, overgrooming, sexual activity and pruritus. The clinical signs suggesting insulinomas were collapse of the ferret, disorientation and ptyalism. A low blood glucose level assisted the diagnosis of insulinomas. This is believed to be the first reported case of concurrent insulinomas and adrenal gland tumour in a ferret in the United Kingdom.     

Ventricular septal defect in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A four-year-old, castrated male ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was evaluated because of a one-year history of sporadic cough. On physical examination a grade 5 of 6 holosystolic murmur was audible over the right apex of the heart. Radiographic findings included the presence of air bronchograms in apical lobes accompanied by pulmonary venous congestion. Colour Doppler echocardiography revealed a left-to-right shunting compatible with a ventricular septal defect. Medical therapy was initiated at the time of the diagnosis. The ferret was presented again 2 months after the initial examination for coughing and respiratory distress. Echocardiographic findings included tricuspid regurgitation, relative enlargement of left-atrial diameter and decreased systolic function, with presence of pleural effusion. Thoracocentesis was performed and the therapeutic plan was revised. In the following months the symptoms did not recur. In the authors' opinion this is the first report to describe the clinical findings of isolated ventricular septal defect in the ferret. Congenital heart defects are rare in this species, the present ferret being only the second case described.     

Systemic Infection Due to Candida parapsilosis in a Domestic Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

An 18-month-old castrated male ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was presented to the veterinary hospital for acute collapse but died despite initiation of emergency treatment. The body was submitted for a complete postmortem examination. The pathologist determined the ferret was suffering from severe necrotizing encephalitis, necrogranulomatous mediastinal lymphadenitis, and ulcerative dermatitis attributable to systemic Candida parapsilosis. This is the first report of systemic Candida parapsilosis in a ferret.     

Behavior of Mustela putorius furo (the domestic ferret).

Behavior patterns exhibited by the domestic ferret, although similar to its wild cousins, are distinctly domestic in nature. Domestic ferrets use many different types of behaviors, including body posturing, animations, vocalizations, and scent markings. These behaviors may differ somewhat from ferret to ferret. The domestic ferret is best understood by observation and recognition of its behavior patterns and interactions as it plays and communicates with both humans and animals within its home environment. As with all other species of animals kept as pets, the clinician will be greatly benefited by urging the pet owner to regularly note typical behavior patterns for their individual pet. Following is a brief summary of behavioral changes noted in domestic ferrets that may aid the owner or keeper in the detection of potential illness or injury: A normally active ferret suddenly becoming quiet or vice-versa Any sudden increase or decrease in daily food and water intake Routine behaviors performed out of context or order, especially in older animals Any sudden increase or decrease in the speed at which routine behaviors are performed (such as urination, defecation, grooming, food, or water intake) Any sudden increase in the effort required to perform normal or routine behaviors Any sudden changes in personality or attitude toward other ferrets or toward other animals or people. The previous information was gathered over the last 15 years from personal observations, experiences, and studies of ferrets in the shelter, home, and animal hospital environments. This information regarding ferret behavior can assist the veterinarian in differentiating between normal and abnormal behaviors in domestic ferrets. This increased understanding of ferret behavior can aid in the diagnosis of injury and disease and assist the veterinarian in educating clients regarding ferret behavior, care, and recognition of potential disease.     

Surgical Repair of a Pelvic Fracture in a Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 9-month-old, chemically spayed female ferret (Mustela putorius furo) presented after a fall (5.5 m) from the first floor of an apartment building. The animal was nonambulatory, with pain localized in the pelvic region. Radiographic examination revealed a bilateral fracture of the iliac body with medial displacement of the left hemipelvis and narrowing of the pelvic canal. Rib fractures, pulmonary contusions, and pleural effusion were also present on thoracic radiographic images. After emergency stabilization of the patient, the fracture of the left iliac body was successfully repaired using a composite internal fixation system with K-wires and polymethylmethacrylate. The implants allowed fracture healing despite loosening of one of the K-wires. Bony healing was achieved within 25 days, including the restoration of pelvic rigidity and maintenance of the diameter of the pelvic canal. Orthopedic examination was unremarkable 4 months following the surgical procedure. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first described open reduction of a pelvic fracture in a ferret.     

Gastric adenocarcinoma with ossification in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 6-year-old female ferret had a firm mass 2 cm in diameter in the pyloric region of the stomach. Histopathologically, the mass was composed of neoplastic proliferation of well-differentiated epithelial cells, showing tubular or glandular growth patterns. Osseous metaplastic foci were often found in the tumor. Tumor cells showed a positive reaction for immunohistochemistry against bone morphogenetic protein-6, an osteogenic factor. A diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma with ossification was made.     

Transient diabetes mellitus in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 3.5-year-old spayed female ferret, fed a diet high in refined sugar, was referred for lethargy, polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia. Diabetic ketoacidosis was diagnosed. Treatment included insulin therapy and a low carbohydrate diet. Diabetes mellitus resolved 54 d later, and insulin therapy was discontinued. There has been no recurrence of the diabetes mellitus.     

Focal thoracolumbar spinal cord lymphosarcoma in a ferret (Mustela putorius furo)

A 6-year-old, castrated male domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) was euthanized following progressive hind limb paresis and atonia of the bladder of 1-year duration. Neurological evaluation localized the lesion to the thoracolumbar spinal region, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a focal intramedullary spinal cord lesion. Histopathology revealed an extensive, unencapsulated, poorly demarcated mass within the thoracolumbar spinal cord, diagnosed as lymphosarcoma.