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Major gastrointestinal illness of concern: These diseases can be under the heading of wasting disease. Any ferret showing the symptoms should have a complete work-up.
Epizootic catarrhal enteritis:
(Green slime disease) caused by corona virus.
Symptoms: In adult ferret, it is the sudden occurrence of bright green diarrhea. The diarrhea can also be yellow, dark red, or black. The infected ferret will vomit, lose is appetite, become lethargic and dehydrated. Young ferrets are more at risk, middle age and older ferrets are at lower risk.
Diagnosis: See clinical signs, and laboratory test.
Similar diseases: Diarrhea from any sources.
Treatment: Antibiotics and supportive therapy.
Prevention: Isolation of infected ferret and cleaning the cage with bleach.
Helicobacter mustelae gastritis:
Is a gastric spiral bacteria caused by:
- Chronic Atrophic Gastritis
- Peptic Ulcer Disease
Both affect the stomach.
Symptoms: Lethargy, loss of eating, rapidly increasing weight loss, dehydration, anemia, periodic vomiting, teeth grinding, and black scabs.
Diagnosis: Surgical biopsy from stomach pylorus is rewarding not by endoscope.
Treatment: Combination of antibiotics and supportive therapy.
Proliferative bowel disease:
Infects ferrets less then 14 months old. The organism infects illume and colon intracellular.
Symptoms: Chronic diarrhea with dark liquid, bright red blood to thin bright green mucous stools. In some cases prolapsed rectum is seen. Infected ferrets may be moaning and crying when they try to defecate. Extreme wait loss in short time (two weeks). Dehydration and upper respiratory infection is a complication.
Diagnosis: Clinical symptoms and biopsy of infected tissues.
Treatment: Antibiotics and supportive therapy.
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