Why is my ferret eating litter and biting? Should I be worried?

Hello there, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am concerned about Stewart. While this interesting biting behavior may be simply that - a strange behavior - I strongly suggest that medical conditions are ruled out by a veterinarian before chalking it up to a weird idiosyncrasy. If Stewart is biting at the air above his head, as if trying to catch a bug, I worry about a secondary condition called "fly-biting," which is essentially a type of seizure. Fly-biting is most common in dogs, but there are certain diseases that can cause seizures in ferrets as well, like an insulinoma (a mass on the pancreas that messes with glucose regulation), a vitamin deficiency, or toxin ingestion. These are unlikely considering Stewart's young age, but I always feel that a physical reason for strange behaviors should be eliminated first. If he's biting the air towards your hands only, I'd feel better about calling it a behavioral issue, but biting the air randomly doesn't sound normal. If everything seems okay after the vet visit, you can talk to him or her about behavior modification. There is a veterinarian that sees exotic animals near you: Mercury Animal Hospital 2500 W Mercury Blvd, Hampton, VA 23666 (757) 826-4951 Good luck, and I hope that Stewart is indeed a healthy ferret!

Rub a small amount of Karo syrup on his gums. If he perks up, offer a meal and then have him examined by your veterinarian. He may be having hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) episodes that could lead to behavioral issues. Most general practice vets should be able to examine and treat Hades.

Sure sound like your new ferret is having some behavioral problems or can't locate his litter box in a timely manner. If the feces appears loose or watery, a fecal examination at the veterinarian can be helpful. If the feces appears firm and normal, this is a situation of training. When you see him squating to defecate, quickly and gently pick him up and place him in his litter box After he defecates, a quick food reward as a positive reinforcement will help to enforce this behavior. Many of the pet stores, such as Petco, have employees educated in behavioral training that might be able to provide additional tips.

Ferrets can definitely be naughty at times! The Sheetrock can cause intestinal obstruction or inflammation, so things to look out for include loss of appetite, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea. Should these signs occur, your pet should be seen by a vet right away. In the future, Bubbles and Buddy should be supervised when out of their enclosure, or given a secure area of the home.

Firstly, you should prevent him from drinking or licking up any more urine. A small amount will likely not harm him, but larger amounts may cause gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea). Keep a bowl or bottle of fresh, clean water available to him at all times. If he becomes lethargic, stops eating or begins to vomit or have diarrhea then he should be examined by your veterinarian.

Poor Badger! His intestinal issues can be caused by viral or bacterial infections or intestinal parasites. While certain viral infections run their course, I recommend having him seen by a vet because you describe him as having lower energy levels and appetite. Badger may need some supportive care to help stabilize him. To speed up the diagnostic process, I recommend bringing a stool sample from Badger in a disposable container so your vet can check for intestinal parasites. I hope this helps and that Badger feels better soon!

Thanks for reaching out about Lola. Microscopic parasites such as mites, can cause itching. Ferrets are fastidious groomers and will often itch themselves. If the problem persists, a veterinary visit is recommended. Good luck.