My ferret was bitten by my dog. Is his abdominal spot serious? What to do?

Thanks for reaching out about Loki and including photos. Could be a spider bite or other injury? Concerned that the black area is dead (necrotic) tissue. A veterinary visit is recommended, even though does not seem painful. Some spider bites contain toxins that can spread. Histiocytomas are other common dermal lesions but are usually very pruritic. Good luck.

It sounds like the biggest concern is Binker's foot. A swollen infected foot can lead to a body wide infection, or sepsis. I would not wait on this, but would encourage you to have him seen by a veterinarian quickly. It is possible it is swollen from trauma rather than infection. Your veterinarian may want to perform some x-rays. Once a diagnosis has been established then they may consider using antibiotics and /or pain medication that is safe for ferrets. The spot on his back can be evaluated at the same time and determine if any treatment is needed for the skin. I hope Binker improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

Swollen belly in ferrets can be caused by various condition although one of the most common is a heart disease ferrets tend to suffer from. i strongly recommend taking him to the vet ASAP in order to get it checked and treated.

Firmness under the left rib cage could be due to more serious problems like bloat, an enlarged liver/spleen, or an abdominal mass, but if Slinky is now eating/drinking normally and pooping normally (normal consistency and frequency), I would just continue with the ferretlax for 3 more days and perhaps offer Oxbox critical care slurry for added hydration. If tomorrow and the next day the abdomen still feels firm on palpation, it would be safest to schedule an exam +/- ultrasound or abdominal radiograph with your local exotics veterinarian. Ferrets are prone to developing insulinomas and adrenal tumors that usually are not noticeable on palpation but if the firmness persists, it would be best to rule out some of these more serious conditions. Good luck!

Hi there, It looks like Emily could either have an old injury that has become infected, or she may have an oil gland that has become infected. I would recommend having her checked by your vet, she may need a skin test and some antibiotics. In the meantime I'd recommend cleaning the area with a mild soap and rinsing it well to avoid leaving any residue, I hope that helps and thanks for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about your kitty. The problem with dog and cat fights or altercations is that it is hard to know the extent of the internal injuries even if there is no external injuries. It is really important to have him checked by a veterinarian to determine for example if he has any evidence of internal injuries such as bleeding into the abdomen, a broken rib or something of that nature. He is probably avoiding contact because he is painful. I highly recommend that you have him evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible for further assessment and evaluation. They may proceed with radiographs and blood work for example depending on his physical examination. At the very least they can start him on pain control medications. Good luck!

From the pictures, it does look like Lala could have been bit by something, but without seeing her in person, I can't say for certain. Because of this, I tend to err on the side of caution, so yes I'd take her into a vet now. Best of luck.