My ferret is losing weight. How can I help him gain it back?

Thanks for reaching out about Naag. The best thing to do would be to see a veterinarian to diagnose the cause of weight loss. Dental disease, metabolic concerns (liver or renal function) intestinal problems (bacterial, parasitic) are just a few on the possibilities. Could it also be fur loss that is appearing as muscle or fat loss? Be wary of inducing weight gain, increases of fat should not be the concern. Good luck.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm glad you have been reunited with Tweet! It is likely that she has not eaten in several days - I recommend giving her high protein food (you can try small amounts of canned cat food or moistened ferret kibble) in multiple small meals throughout the day. I commonly recommend a product called Ferretone, which has high vitamins and calories, which may help Tweet regain nutrients quicker. You should keep a close eye on her over the next several days, especially because she may have eaten something she should not have while she was missing. I hope all is well and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Ferrets should be plump, but not fat, You should not see the ribs and spine, but should feel the ribs easily, If the ribs and spine are not visible, then she is likely a normal weight. Unfortunately the photo does not show her body well enough to evaluate her properly. Since you only acquired Jasmin recently, I suggest you take her to your vet for a basic initial exam and to introduce her to your vet, who will then also assess her body condition.

This can be very serious. I suggest you get him to a vet for an exam. This is not likely an injured leg (although possible). This sounds more like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) from an insulin tumor (insulinoma) or an adrenal tumor however, there are some other possibilities too. You can't know what to do for him until you find out why he has these symptoms. He needs a vet exam. https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951368 I don't know if these clinics will treat ferrets but you can call them and find out: https://www.ashevillehumane.org/resources/vet-care-assistance https://opendoorveterinarycare.com/services/

Thanks for reaching out about Pepper and including photos. With the hair loss on the tail "rat tail", this is highly suspicious of an adrenal disease. A veterinary visit is recommended as soon as possible to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. These endocrine problems are very common in ferrets and only start as hair loss, but other internal changes are likely occurring. Treatments are possible. Good luck.

Draco is probably suffering from a severe gastrointestinal condition causing bleeding stomach ulcers, unfortunately this is not a condition that you can treat at home, he will need prescription medications and for the first few days he will need to be hospitalized, otherwise he will likely not survive this. if money is an issue, please contact a pet charity in your area of living, they should be able to help, in any case- Draco must see a vet urgently.

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!