Ferrets are obligate carnivores They MUST have a meat based diet and need a diet high in meat proteins, fats and a balance of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. If your ferret is not getting enough nutrition from the food he is eating, he may develop a dry, sparse or brittle coat. It is important that you get your ferret on a better diet right away before permanent developmental damage is done.
To help your ferret get back on the right track, you can also offer him an oil based fatty acid supplement such as Mrs. If your ferret likes the taste of these supplements, you can put a few drops on his new food to help entice him to eat it.
Eventually you should be able to stop putting the oil on the food and just offer a few drops a day as a treat or reward instead.
Too much oil can cause gastric upset or diarrhea and can lead to obesity. Hopefully you will have gotten your ferret in to see a veterinarian before these latter stages develop! I previously mentioned the effect of hormones on hobs in rut. There is also a hormonal condition that affects jills intact female ferrets and can cause their hair to fall out. This condition is called hyperestrogenism.
Hyperestrogenism is caused by the jill being left in heat estrus too long. The high levels of estrogen can cause the hair to become thin or fall out in uneven patches.
Breeding her or spaying her early in the heat cycle can help her avoid this potentially dangerous condition. There are also shots that your ferret can receive to take her out of heat. A severe condition called aplastic anemia can also develop.
A high percentage of jills die from this condition every year, so your best bet, if you are keeping your ferret as a family pet and not for breeding purposes, is to have her spayed just before or early into her first heat. This is usually around six or seven months of age. Most pet shop ferrets are spayed or neutered as kits, so this may not be a problem to you and your pet. Another health problem that can cause severe hair loss is adrenal disease. This problem is fairly common in ferrets over three years of age.
Adrenal tumors may grow on one or both adrenal glands. There is still a lot of speculation as to what causes these tumors in ferrets. The results of the disease, however, are fairly obvious, with patterned hair loss being the most common indicator. Generally, a ferret shedding his coat due to adrenal disease will start with hair loss at the base of the tail. This alopecia hair loss usually works its way up the back and down the tail in a fairly symmetrical pattern.
The most common treatment for this disease is surgical removal of the affected adrenal gland. Fortunately most adrenal tumors are benign and the success rate for this surgery is good. If you think your ferret is developing this disease, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about it. If your ferret has been on a good diet, though, his chances of a quicker recovery after surgery increase.
The last major cause of shedding or hair loss in ferrets is allergies. Most ferrets that are properly cared for will never experience the other negative types of shedding, so don't stress out too much! One of the biggest impacts of changing daylight hours is seasonal molting in ferrets -- something that happens twice a year.
Every spring, a ferret sheds the entirety of its heavy winter coat in exchange for a lighter and sleeker coat. Then, when fall approaches, the ferret sheds it light coat for a warm winter one. This shedding is typically very gradual, so your ferret won't experience massive amounts of hair loss.
However, some ferrets can shed their winter coat in spring in an extremely short amount of time, often resulting in a sparse coat for several days. Some ferrets may also have a patchy appearance due to their guard hairs shedding before their undercoat. This is also very normal and will quickly balance back out within a few days. During this period of molting, it's recommended that you brush your ferret to help them along with their transformation.
Using a soft brush with thick bristles, brush against the grain and with a slight turn of the wrist to help dislodge any loose hair. This will help the shed go more smoothly and keep your ferret comfortable during this time. If you see your ferret losing hair and it's not time for their bi-yearly shed, there's a good chance it's because of improper care on your end.
Specifically, a poor diet is a common cause of unintended hair loss in ferrets. Ferrets need to eat specific food that meets their dietary requirements. If a ferret doesn't get this nutrition from their food, they'll become malnourished and will likely lose a good amount of their fur.
Fortunately, it isn't hard to find a food that meets these requirements, as even some cat food works well for ferrets. Hair loss may also occur if the ferret isn't getting enough sleep. These creatures are crepuscular, so they're active from dusk until dawn. During its long sleeping periods, ferrets need darkness and a quiet environment in order to get healthy sleep and absorb the necessary melatonin. This is another extremely common cause for hair loss, and all types of ferrets are susceptible to this disease.
Adrenal gland disease is a result of aging in ferrets, and it causes adrenal glands to become overactive and produce sex hormones that result in hair loss. Hence, you should consult your veterinarian if your ferret shows rat tail shedding.
Ferrets being obligate carnivores require protein and a fat rich diet. If your ferret is not getting the nutrients that its body needs, you can see poor quality, brittle and thin coat of fur on your ferret.
Improper nutrition can also lead to partial alopecia. Your ferret must have a properly balanced diet to prevent alopecia. You should always feed high quality food to your ferret. Moreover, you should take proper care in bathing your ferret. Your ferret can get flea infestation if he spends time with other flea infested pets or remains outdoors. A flea infestation can cause scratching and itching in your ferret, which can lead to hair loss in the affected areas.
Ear mites are also common in ferrets. If your ferret is infested with ear mites, due to excessive scratching, the hair around the ears may be lost. Infectious agents like ringworm, yeast, virus, and bacteria can lead to hair loss in ferrets. Even though infectious diseases are less common in ferrets, they are still susceptible to them. Ringworm is a fungal infection in ferrets that appears like a red circular rash with healthy skin in the center.
Yeast infection is less common in ferrets. However, older ferrets who are suffering from adrenal gland disease can get a yeast infection. Yeast infection causes hair loss and it will make the skin appear brittle. These infections can be treated with antibiotics prescribed by the veterinarian. Just like other animals, ferrets can also suffer from the influenza virus, which can cause excessive scratching and hair loss, along with coughing and sneezing.
Canine distempers caused due to RNA virus can also lead to itching and hair loss. This will help in the shedding process, and it will ensure that your ferret gets a nice and healthy coat. It is best to use a soft brush for brushing. You can get a variety of brushes at a pet store. Confused about which brush to use? We vouch by the Marshall's Soft Brush! Make sure that you only bathe your ferret once a month. Excessive bathing can cause the ferret to lose out the essential oils on its fur, making its coat dry.
Check out this amazing ferret shampoo that I love to use on my ferret. Ferrets often groom themselves with their tongues. Unlike cats, ferrets do not cough out the hairballs. To avoid hairballs, you can provide your ferret with chewable laxative supplements. Take a look at these softball chews for ferrets.
Ferrets do shed in winter, but it will be almost negligible. During winters, ferrets will grow thick coats as a natural defense against the cold.
If your ferret sheds excessively during winters, you should consult a vet, as it can indicate some abnormality in your ferret. Ferrets will shed throughout the year. However, usually, young ferrets shed around August to November. The adult and older ferrets will shed from May till October.
Apart from this, male ferrets tend to shed more from January to June, whereas female ferrets shed more during April and May. If your ferret is shedding too much during the shedding cycle, that is normal ferret behavior. However, if your ferret sheds excessively all around the year, it can be caused due to factors like:. In conclusion, Do Ferrets Shed?
YES , they do. A ferret will shed mainly during the spring and fall seasons.
0コメント