Why is my ferret suddenly dragging, incontinent, and biting?

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.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm so sorry to hear about Clarence. Some further tests can help make a diagnosis and determine if a treatment other than surgery is possible. Tests would include an ultrasound of his belly, this would show if there are any masses that were not seen on the x-rays or enlargement of any organs. His feces can also be submitted to a lab to see if he has any parasites. Because Clarence is losing weight and is unable to control his bowels, it sounds like you may have some difficult decisions to make regarding his future and care. I'm sorry that Clarence is not doing well and wish you luck with his care!

I am sorry to hear about Penny. She may have injured her back while climbing in/out of the litter box. Intervertebral disc disease is something that older ferrets can get. Sometimes, they can slip a disc in their spine and it can cause severe pain and discomfort. She may have slipped a disc when exiting the litter box. Ferrets can get arthritis in their spine as well. At her age, it is likely she does have some arthritis but because of the sudden onset of symptoms you described when she come out of the litter box, it makes me think she may have intervertebral disc disease. Anti-inflammatory medication can help keep her comfortable. You should talk to your vet for some or try going to see another veterinarian if your vet doesn't want to help Penny. Ferret's can also get adrenal disease that can cause a variety of symptoms. I will attach a link about adrenal disease in ferrets so that you can see if Penny has any of the symptoms. Hope this has helped. Thank you for using pet coach. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?articleid=1983

I am so sorry to hear that Lola isn't doing well. There are many different things that can cause lethargy in ferrets. However, what you describe makes me concerned that this isn't lethargy or weakness, but possibly something more concerning such as trauma. The bloody urine makes me very concerned that there may have been trauma that you didn't witness. I am worried that she may have injured her spinal cord and that could be why her hind legs aren't working. I would highly encourage you to have her evaluated by a veterinarian as soon as possible. In the mean time make sure to keep her well hydrated. Best of luck and I hope she improves soon. Thank you for using Pet Coach.

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!

Hello. We do see several conditions & diseases in ferrets as they age, so it would be best to have Busta evaluated by your veterinarian. I do not think not having access to water for 12 hours caused any problems, it may just be coincidental that he feel ill after this. Do have him seen as soon as you can in case he does need some further testing or treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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!