Ferret urogenital diseases.

Improved nutrition and client education have decreased the incidence of certain urinary tract diseases in ferrets. Early neutering programs at commercial breeding farms in the United States have also led to a marked decrease in the incidence of reproductive tract disease, especially estrogen-induced bone marrow suppression. However, the increased incidence of adrenal disease and its secondary effects on reproductive and associated urinary tract tissue presents an ongoing challenge for the clinician working with pet ferrets. Acute and chronic renal failure remain important, though less common, disease entities. It is imperative that the veterinarian working with pet ferrets be aware of the clinical presentation and clinicopathologic abnormalities associated with these syndromes.     

Ferret oncology: diseases, diagnostics, and therapeutics.

Many standard diagnostic and chemotherapeutic protocols can be adapted for use in ferrets. Unique anatomic and clinical features dictate modification of protocols, but should not prohibit diagnosis or treatment. Ferrets may be the easiest of nontraditional species to treat with chemotherapeutics. We can provide more options for our patients, with improved quality of life and longer survival times than ever before. Although clients are never happy to hear the diagnosis of "cancer," it is no longer a word that condemns their beloved pet.     

Ferret orthopedics.

Orthopedic conditions requiring surgical intervention and correction frequently occur in the ferret patient. Elbow luxations and long bone fractures are among the most common syndromes affecting the ferret patient, which often presents in an emergency setting. Orthopedic conditions in the ferret, as in other mammalian species, are often the result of trauma. Surgical treatment including reduction and stabilization of the affected bony structure, combined with supervision and the recommended postoperative care, can provide a good prognosis to return to normal function for the ferret.     

Ferret nutrition.

The unusually short intestinal tract of ferrets and closely related mustelids lacks a cecum and ileocolic valve. As a result, the transit time of ingesta in these carnivores is very rapid compared with other animals, and their food is inefficiently digested. Although the precise nutritional requirements of ferrets have not been determined by feeding defined diets, information has been compiled from experience feeding commercial and analyzed homemade diets to breeding ferrets, fitch, and mink at all stages of their lives. The requirements of spayed or neutered pet ferrets are met by allowing them constant access to drinking water and a palatable, pelleted, or extruded, 90% dry matter, premium cat or ferret food that, as fed, contains at least 15% fat and 30% high quality, meat source protein, less than 30% carbohydrates, and approximately 4 Kcal of metabolizable energy per gram. Lower density diets with more carbohydrate and less protein are associated with poor reproductive performance and growth and greater susceptibility to infectious and metabolic diseases.     

Amphibian respiratory diseases.

This article describes the diseases that commonly affect the lungs, gills, and nasal passages of frogs, toads, and salamanders. Although these organs often are affected by systemic infections, only diseases that are limited to the respiratory system are discussed. Gills of aquatic amphibians commonly are affected by poor water quality, infestations by protozoa or trematodes, or infections by water molds. Nematodes in the genus Rhabias are significant pulmonary pathogens in frogs and toads. The nasal passages of frogs, toads, and salamanders may be parasitized by Bufolucilia fly larvae.     

Ferret care and husbandry.

Convivial and playful, the ferret has cohabited with humans for hundreds of years. Maintenance of this mustelid's health and quality of life is paramount for the endurance of the human-animal bond. This review article for veterinary care givers, veterinarians, and staff, encompasses discussions on: husbandry, clinical techniques, prevalent diseases, history taking, physical examination, vaccination, and pain recognition. This article also enables the veterinary community to contribute to the care and welfare of ferret patients by offering facts to distinguish these animals from dogs and cats.     

Immunization against respiratory diseases in cats.

The studies we carried out on respiratory diseases concerned inactivated vaccines administered by the parenteral route and which safety and potency had been clearly established. The immunity we evidenced is a humoral general (and certainly cellular) immunity.An additional aim is under investigation: the development of a local immunity.We are working on the development of a vaccine with attenuated live virus, that may be administered by the oculo—nasal route and used in association with an inactivated vaccine.Numerous experiments are presently carried out to check the safety and potency of this live vaccine and determine the optimum scheme of vaccination.     

Viral respiratory diseases

An overview of the more commonly encountered viral diseases of the dog and cat is presented. The reader is acquainted with the principles of antiviral therapy and the drugs that have been studied for use in animal viral respiratory diseases. An update on vaccination principles and guidelines is provided.     

Emerging Ferret Diseases

There are a number of newly described and emerging disease syndromes affecting the domestic ferret, and the purpose of this article is to make veterinarians aware of these diseases. A recently described systemic coronavirus infection appears to be a variant of the ferret enteric coronavirus and is currently termed “ferret infectious peritonitis.” Disseminated immunopathologic myositis, aplastic anemia/bone marrow aplasia, acute hemorrhagic syndrome, and oral ulcerations are also described, although the exact etiologies for these diseases have yet to be determined. There appears to be at least 2 important amino acid metabolism deficiencies in ferrets: hindlimb weakness in older ferrets (L-carnitine) and cysteine urolithiasis. Ferrets have recently been found to be susceptible to H1N1 influenza, so knowledge regarding this zoonotic disease is essential for veterinarians working with these animals. A novel Mycoplasma spp. has also recently been identified in ferrets with chronic respiratory problems that originated from one breeding colony. Because these diseases are still being investigated, practitioners who treat a ferret patient exhibiting clinical signs consistent with any of the conditions mentioned are encouraged to contact people who are knowledgeable of that particular illness.     

Ferret, rabbit, and rodent anesthesia.

Ferrets, rabbits, and rodents are increasingly being presented to veterinarians for evaluation and treatment. The owners of these animals expect high-level medical and surgical care. Consequently, veterinarians are more often required to provide intensive anesthetic management of these animals. The variability of anesthetic agents used and patient responses are addressed. The consequences of size for anesthetic management are discussed. Successful small mammal anesthesia requires following general anesthetic principles, awareness of limitations, and maintenance of high standards of care.