Feeding your ferret well and getting vaccinations on a regular basis is the best way to maintain optimal health.  However, there is the possibility that a ferret can suffer from certain disease processes or contagious viruses at some point in time.  Knowing what to watch out for can help the ferret owner know when to seek the help of a vet.

Female ferrets that have not been bred or spayed can be affected with Aplastic Anemia.  This is caused by a decreased production in red blood cells in the bone marrow after high estrogen level due to a prolonged period.  Aplastic Anemia can be fatal.  But before you worry too much, understand that it is also preventable.  The signs of Aplastic Anemia are fever, depression and white, pale gums.  You can eliminate the risk of this disease by spaying your female ferret before she comes into her first heat.

Female ferrets can come into heat once or twice during breeding season, which runs from March through August.  This is because they are a seasonally polyestrus animal.  You can watch for signs that your female is going into heat.  At the onset of heat, the external genitalia will swell.  If a female goes into heat but does not find a suitable mate and therefore doesn’t copulate, she will stay in heat for up to 160 days.  This is because she will not ovulate until after copulation.  No occurrence of copulation signals her body to keep trying!  Staying in heat for this long period of time can cause life threatening bone marrow suppression in your female.  For this reason, females who will not be bred should be spayed between 6-8 months of age.

Ferrets can also contract canine distemper.  This is an airborne disease that is considered to be quite contagious.  Vaccines for distemper are available and effective.  When your ferret is 12 weeks of age, he should receive a series of three vaccinations in order to keep him safe from this disease.  It is very important to make sure your ferret receives the vaccination because once the animal contracts canine distemper, it is usually fatal.

Stress can have a negative affect on your ferret, causing gastric ulcers, a potentially fatal disorder.  The bacteria that causes gastric ulcers is present in the systems of most ferrets; and just a little stress can trigger a flare up.  A ferret can become stressed with a change in environment such as a move or the addition of a new pet.  A ferret who has a problem with an ulcer will experience a loss of appetite, grinding of teeth, or bloody or dark, tarry stools.   In extreme cases, a ferret with an ulcer will gag and paw at his mouth.  This can be treated with a combination of either Amoxicillan or Flagyl and Pepto Bismol.  These will be given daily for a period of six weeks.  There may be other treatments recommended by your vet.

Maintaining a healthy ferret is something you can stay on top of with regular health check ups and vaccinations at your vets office.