Symptoms And Causes

<body> <center><a name="QuickMark"></a> <table border="10" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="3" width="90%" bgcolor="#000000"> <tr align="CENTER" valign="CENTER"> <td align="CENTER" valign="CENTER"><b><i><font color="#FFFFFF" point-size="48" size="7">Common Symptoms & Possible Causes</font></i></b></td> <td align="CENTER" valign="CENTER"><img src="../../images/belle04.jpg" alt="West Valley Wuzzles!" width="99" height="120"><br> <b><font color="#FFFFFF"><a href="../index.htm">Home Page</a></font></b><br> <b><font color="#FFFFFF"><a href="index.htm">Documents Page</a></font></b></td> </tr> </table> <p><b>Note: Consult with your vet if your ferret is acting unusual! While you are "the first line of defense" for your pet's health, a trained professional can help ascertain what the combination of symptoms may mean. A vet - not your spouse, best friend, other ferret owner, or the local shelter - is the BEST QUALIFIED person to advise you if your animal needs immediate veterinary attention.</b><br>  <br>   <p><b><i><font size="+2">Eyes</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Bulging or swollen<br> Runny or watery<br> Pus<br> Brown crust<br> White spot or "disk" in eyes<br> Blindness</td> <td>Glaucoma<br> Allergy, cold<br> Conjunctivitis<br> Distemper<br> Cataract<br> Cataract</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Mouth</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Pale gums<br> Red, sore or bleeding gums<br> Bluish gray gums<br> Blackened teeth<br> Dark or stained teeth<br> Rash on chin and lips<br> Drooling<br> Clenched teeth<br> Scratching at mouth<br> Vomiting<br> Vomiting blood<br> Panting</td> <td>Anemia, low blood pressure<br> Tarter buildup; gingivitis<br> Lack of Oxygen<br> Dead tooth<br> Age, tetracycline as kit<br> Distemper<br> Insulinoma seizure; poison<br> Insulinoma seizure<br> Broken tooth, nausea<br> Foreign body, ulcers, ECE; hairballs; poison<br> Internal hemorrhage<br> Heat stroke; severe pain; insulinoma seizure</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Nose</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Sore on Nose<br> Runny nose, sneezing<br> Short, broken whiskers<br> Dark pink or red<br> Bright red</td> <td>Infection<br> Cold, flu<br> Poor nutrition, ill health<br> Insulinoma seizure<br> Hyperthermia (heat stroke)</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Ears</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Black inside<br> Black inside, itching<br> Yellow<br> Bad smell<br> Growth<br> Loss of hair on<br> Deafness</td> <td>Excessive dirt<br> Mites<br> Hepatitis<br> Excessive dirt; yeast-type infection<br> Tumor; infected bite<br> Another ferret chewing on them<br> Congenital, Waardenburg's Syndrome (panda pattern); infection</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Paws</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>"Splayed" feet<br> Hair loss<br> Dry pads<br> Dark pink pads<br> Bright red pads<br> Rough, thickened pads<br> Roughened, scratched pads<br> Long quick<br> Nail torn out<br> Curled toes</td> <td>Housed on wire<br> Age, adrenal disease<br> Clay litter<br> Insulinoma seizure<br> Hyperthermia (heat stroke)<br> Distemper<br> Lost outside for significant period; housed outdoors/dirt/cement<br> Not regularly clipped<br> Caught on bedding; on cage wire<br> Age, weak hindquarters</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Legs</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Limping<br> Staggering<br> Stiffness<br> Weakness in hindquarters</td> <td>Stepped on<br> Insulinoma; stroke; ear infection<br> Arthritis; age; over-caged<br> Age; arthritis; low blood sugar; general illness</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Tail</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Kinked<br> Lump at end<br> Black spots<br> Hair loss</td> <td>Previously broken; birth defect<br> Chondromas<br> Blackheads<br> Blackheads; age; adrenal disease</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Fur & Skin</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Dry<br> Black spots<br> Fur falling out<br> Guard hair sparse<br> Thinning<br> Patterned (base of tail/ up backside) loss<br> "Graying"<br> Flaking skin<br> Yellowed<br> Reddened, rough skin<br> "Pinched" skin stays pinched<br> Wart-like growths<br> Dark brown or black "moles"<br> "Puffy," inflamed areas<br> Sore slow to heal</td> <td>Sleeping in litter; poor nutrition; age; general illness<br> Flea dirt<br> Seasonal coat change; poor nutrition; stress; flea allergy<br> Regrowth of coat<br> Age; unnatural light cycle; adrenal disease; in heat or rut<br> Adrenal disease<br> Natural silvering pattern; age<br> Flea dermatitis; poor nutrition; allergies; over-shampooing<br> Hepatitis<br> Allergies; fleas; sunburn; bites from others<br> Dehydration<br> Skin tumors<br> Ticks<br> Abscess<br> Diabetes; adrenal disease; cancer</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Lungs</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Coughing<br> Wheezing<br> Rapid breathing<br> Difficult breathing</td> <td>Cold, heart disease; lymphosarcoma<br> Allergy; heart disease; pneumonia<br> Heat stroke; pain<br> Heart disease; pneumonia; lymphosarcoma; heartworm</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Stomach/Spleen</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Stomach distention<br> Lopsided abdomen<br> Hardened area along abdomen<br> Anorexia</td> <td>Intestinal blockage; heart disease; poison; internal tumor<br> Enlarged spleen<br> Enlarged spleen<br> Stomach or mouth ulcers; ECE</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Urination/Defacation</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Male "dribbling" or crying<br> "Sand" in urine<br> Heavy urination (& excessive thirst)<br> Inability to urinate<br> Inability to defecate<br> Diarrhea<br> Green diarrhea<br> Dark, tarry stool<br> Blood in stool<br> Fabric or odd objects in stool<br> Frequent, small stool<br> Protrusion from anus<br> Draining area near anus</td> <td>Urinary tract blockage; bladder stones; kidney infection; Adrenal Disease<br> Bladder stones<br> Diabetes; kidney infection<br> Kidney failure; blockage<br> Internal blockage<br> Dairy products; food allergies; stress; coccidia; camphobacter<br> Upset stomach; stress; ECE<br> Too many raisins; bleeding<br> Internal hemorrhage, cancer<br> Eating fabric or toys<br> Poor rectal muscles<br> Rectal prolapse<br> Anal gland impaction</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Reproductive Organs</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Bleeding penis<br> Growth on penis<br> "Dragging" penis across things<br> Swollen vulva<br> Pus or discharge from vulva</td> <td>Caught on something<br> Tumor<br> Territorial marking; adrenal disease<br> In heat; leftover ovarian tissue; adrenal disease<br> Infection; adrenal disease</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Overall Body</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Temperature over 103<br> Temperature under 95<br> Severe anemia<br> Limp upon awakening<br> Comatose<br> Uncontrollable shivers/tremors<br> Convulsions<br> Wasting<br> Enlarged lymph nodes<br> Blood sugar level under 80</td> <td>Fever<br> Hypothermia; serious illness<br> Lengthy heat cycle; internal tumor; severely enlarged spleen<br> Baby sleep; low blood sugar; insulinoma<br> Insulinoma; stroke<br> Shock; poison<br> Insulinoma seizure; epilepsy; poison; shock<br> Cancer; age; internal blockage; internal parasite<br> Infection; cold/flu; lymphosarcoma<br> Anorexia; insulinoma</td> </tr> </table> </center><br>  <center> <p><b><i><font size="+2">Behavior</font></i></b></center><center> <table border="3" cellspacing="3" cellpadding="10"> <tr> <td>Fainting<br> Lethargy<br> "Listing " to one side<br> Walking in circles<br> Excessive grooming<br> Biting when startled<br> Biting other ferrets<br> Hopping & leaping</td> <td>Insulinoma<br> Anemia; low glucose; age; heart disease; illness<br> Ear infection; mites; stroke<br> Stroke<br> Stress; adrenal disease<br> Blind; deaf<br> Blind; dominance issues<br> PLAYING!</td> </tr> </table> </center> </body>