Ferret Info

We all love our ferrets and enjoy them every day. Did you know, though, that they can catch, and can pass on, influenza from and to humans? They are readily susceptible to both types A and B and the swine flu, and it looks just like the flu in humans:  thick clear discharge from the nose and eyes, conjunctivitis (red, swollen membranes around the eyes), sneezing, coughing at night, diarrhea, occasional vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy, and a high fever.

Sick ferrets with swine flu are no exception. You need to be careful, stay on top of the subject, and wash your hands frequently to avoid giving your ferret influenza, which can turn into pneumonia in our little friends, and that is almost certainly a death sentence.

Another thing to keep in mind:  apparently ferrets can catch the flu from people easier than people can catch it from ferrets. If you have what you think may be the flu, or even a cold, try to stay away from your pets or wear a medical facemask to avoid spreading your germs. It’s just common sense that may save your ferrets from a nasty time with the swine, or any other, flu.

Two things to note here:  1) don’t try to be a vet and diagnose your pet yourself. It’s too important not to go to a qualified veterinarian. They can tell pretty quickly whether it is a cold, the flu, or pneumonia whereas you’ll just be guessing, and 2) do not treat your ferret with swine flu with human medications! Though they can catch the same disease, they will not respond to the same medicine as humans, and it can, in fact, do more harm than good. So save the Nyquil for the kids!

One thing to remember is that your ferret’s flu or your ferret’s swine flu will, just like in humans, usually run its course in 5-7 days. The younger and the older ferrets are more susceptible and can develop complications like pneumonia, which can be fatal to these or any ferret with a depressed immune system. With all of the news about this latest disease, you don’t want your ferrets to get the swine flu; it’s a bad variation, with deaths in Mexico and cases spreading throughout the world.

Ferrets are so similar in their flu-catching ability, in fact, that one lab uses them for research. The National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), in north London, is one of only five World Health Organization collaborating centers for influenza research. These scientists currently are preparing for live samples of swine flu that they can analyze and hopefully find a way to combat this latest menace. They will do their analyses in a high-level containment lab since it spreads so easily and quickly from person to person and ferret to person. One way they will do this is to inject their samples into ferrets, since ferrets handle the flu and develop an immune response, similarly to humans.

What the scientists are doing is analyzing the antibodies in the ferrets’ blood to see whether the virus is showing signs of what is called “antigenic drift.” That is simply whether it is adapting and changing to less harmful or more harmful varieties as it passes from one person, or one ferret, to another.

The best you can do during this time is the same as with humans:  you can be supportive and help alleviate the symptoms as the virus runs its course through your sick ferret. One important factor is to ensure that your ferret, whether it has the swine flu or any other, remains hydrated. If they are not eating and drinking the way they should, you may have to force feed fluids and foods. Plus, if you notice a yellow or green discharge from the nose or the eyes, it’s time to call the vet.

Don’t take a chance with your ferret and the swine flu; be prepared and on your guard.