VACCINATIONS
When you adopt a kit from SJ Ferrets at 10 weeks of age it has already had its C4 vaccine and will not require another booster shot for a year after this.
A Vet should know the appropriate C4 dosage for a ferret, if they are unaware of this I would find a more ferret knowledgeable Vet and see them instead.
Please ensure your Vet gives your ferret the correct dosage, this is very serious, if overdosed, unnoticed and untreated it can cause illness in your ferret which can lead to possible death. If under dosed the ferret will not be healthily covered against Canine Distemper and could be susceptible to this disease.
Canine Distemper is fatal to a ferret within a matter of days and is not worth the risk. Please vaccinate your ferret every year to ensure they are safely covered against any possibilities of contracting Canine Distemper.
WORMS, FLEAS & EARMITES
Ferrets are unfortunately susceptible to the same fleas, ear mites and worms as cats and dogs such as heartworm and intestinal worm. A monthly application of treatment such as Revolution or Advocate will prevent your ferret from being able to contract them.
You will need to get your Vet to dose up the correct amount for your ferret as it will differ to that of a cat or dog. Do NOT administer Revolution or Advocate without consulting your Vet prior as over dosing your ferret can cause illness.
If you find fleas on your ferret it is best to visit your Vet and have them treated, Advantage Kitten can be safely used. Another alternative is to bath them in a warm bath with no shampoos, the fleas will be visible to pick off or you will be able to brush them out with a flea comb once finished.
Along with performing the above, you will also need to wash your ferrets cage, all bedding, sheets, toys, clothes, towels etc. to prevent them from returning.
It is not recommended to use flea shampoos or powders on your ferret as this may cause respiratory problems.
If you find your ferret with ear mites, a simple ear clean will not get rid of them, they will need to be treated with an ear solution at the Vet, this must be treated or the eggs from ear mites will bury deep into their ear canal and cause them a great deal of discomfort and possible sickness. Ear mites can lay their eggs in litter trays and are transferrable from animal to animal, this means your ferret can catch ear mites from your dog or cat, so always ensure when treating one pet for ear mites to treat the others at the same time.
If you are unsure on anything you see or feel on your ferret or your ferrets behaviour changes it is ALWAYS best consult your ferret knowledgeable Vet. It is much better to be safe than sorry.
EAR CLEANING
Cleaning your ferret’s ears is an important part of grooming them and keeping them clean and free of too much wax build up. In saying this, you must also remember that too much ear cleaning can be a bad thing (just like ourselves) as healthy normal ear wax is required as a barrier against any nasties.
Never clean any further into the ear than what you can see as this will be uncomfortable for your ferret and may cause them to move quickly and possibly causing injury to their ear/ear drum. Please follow the below images to safely clean your ferrets ears. Please note Nibbles is yawning in the first image, she is in no way uncomfortable during this process.
When you adopt a kit from SJ Ferrets at 10 weeks of age it has already had its C4 vaccine and will not require another booster shot for a year after this.
A Vet should know the appropriate C4 dosage for a ferret, if they are unaware of this I would find a more ferret knowledgeable Vet and see them instead.
Please ensure your Vet gives your ferret the correct dosage, this is very serious, if overdosed, unnoticed and untreated it can cause illness in your ferret which can lead to possible death. If under dosed the ferret will not be healthily covered against Canine Distemper and could be susceptible to this disease.
Canine Distemper is fatal to a ferret within a matter of days and is not worth the risk. Please vaccinate your ferret every year to ensure they are safely covered against any possibilities of contracting Canine Distemper.
WORMS, FLEAS & EARMITES
Ferrets are unfortunately susceptible to the same fleas, ear mites and worms as cats and dogs such as heartworm and intestinal worm. A monthly application of treatment such as Revolution or Advocate will prevent your ferret from being able to contract them.
You will need to get your Vet to dose up the correct amount for your ferret as it will differ to that of a cat or dog. Do NOT administer Revolution or Advocate without consulting your Vet prior as over dosing your ferret can cause illness.
If you find fleas on your ferret it is best to visit your Vet and have them treated, Advantage Kitten can be safely used. Another alternative is to bath them in a warm bath with no shampoos, the fleas will be visible to pick off or you will be able to brush them out with a flea comb once finished.
Along with performing the above, you will also need to wash your ferrets cage, all bedding, sheets, toys, clothes, towels etc. to prevent them from returning.
It is not recommended to use flea shampoos or powders on your ferret as this may cause respiratory problems.
If you find your ferret with ear mites, a simple ear clean will not get rid of them, they will need to be treated with an ear solution at the Vet, this must be treated or the eggs from ear mites will bury deep into their ear canal and cause them a great deal of discomfort and possible sickness. Ear mites can lay their eggs in litter trays and are transferrable from animal to animal, this means your ferret can catch ear mites from your dog or cat, so always ensure when treating one pet for ear mites to treat the others at the same time.
If you are unsure on anything you see or feel on your ferret or your ferrets behaviour changes it is ALWAYS best consult your ferret knowledgeable Vet. It is much better to be safe than sorry.
EAR CLEANING
Cleaning your ferret’s ears is an important part of grooming them and keeping them clean and free of too much wax build up. In saying this, you must also remember that too much ear cleaning can be a bad thing (just like ourselves) as healthy normal ear wax is required as a barrier against any nasties.
Never clean any further into the ear than what you can see as this will be uncomfortable for your ferret and may cause them to move quickly and possibly causing injury to their ear/ear drum. Please follow the below images to safely clean your ferrets ears. Please note Nibbles is yawning in the first image, she is in no way uncomfortable during this process.
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NAIL CLIPPING
Clipping your ferrets nails should be done on a fortnightly to monthly basis to ensure they are kept at a good length. This is so they do not cause discomfort or get their nails caught on bedding and possibly injure themselves.
The pink quick in your ferrets nail contains blood vessels and nerves, and if cut it will bleed and cause your ferret discomfort and pain. Being cautious when clipping nails is a must, steady and slow wins the race. If you have no luck with this method of clipping nails then it might be best to see if your Vet can assist you or if you are located in Adelaide, I would be more than happy to assist in clipping your ferrets nails for a small fee of $10. If in doubt when clipping nails, only cut a small amount off and do it more regularly. Please note Nibbles is yawning in the first image, she is in no way uncomfortable during this process.
Clipping your ferrets nails should be done on a fortnightly to monthly basis to ensure they are kept at a good length. This is so they do not cause discomfort or get their nails caught on bedding and possibly injure themselves.
The pink quick in your ferrets nail contains blood vessels and nerves, and if cut it will bleed and cause your ferret discomfort and pain. Being cautious when clipping nails is a must, steady and slow wins the race. If you have no luck with this method of clipping nails then it might be best to see if your Vet can assist you or if you are located in Adelaide, I would be more than happy to assist in clipping your ferrets nails for a small fee of $10. If in doubt when clipping nails, only cut a small amount off and do it more regularly. Please note Nibbles is yawning in the first image, she is in no way uncomfortable during this process.
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BATHING
Ferrets do not require to be bathed often at all as it strips the natural oils from their skin and dries it out unnecessarily. If you are bathing your ferret too often, he/she will produce more oils to replace the ones lost during bathing, this will actually make them smell worse and their coat/fur will become yellow due to the oil overload.
I personally do not bath my ferrets more than once a year, some haven't been bathed in 2 or more years, my eldest ferret who will turn 7 soon has only had 3 baths in her life. In saying this you can safely bath your ferret every 3 months without causing problems but I wouldn't recommend it more than this.
When bathing your ferret it is suggested to use a soap free shampoo to reduce irritation of their skin. I personally use Aristopet Ferret Shampoo as it is a Mild Non-Irritating Tearless Shampoo and I also recommend Dermacare Natural Shampoo as it is for animals with normal and sensitive skin. Both of these shampoos can be purchased at Pet Barn or Pet Stock (as long as they have it in stock, of course), alternatively most Veterinary Clinics will have Dermacare products in stock.
Ferrets do not require to be bathed often at all as it strips the natural oils from their skin and dries it out unnecessarily. If you are bathing your ferret too often, he/she will produce more oils to replace the ones lost during bathing, this will actually make them smell worse and their coat/fur will become yellow due to the oil overload.
I personally do not bath my ferrets more than once a year, some haven't been bathed in 2 or more years, my eldest ferret who will turn 7 soon has only had 3 baths in her life. In saying this you can safely bath your ferret every 3 months without causing problems but I wouldn't recommend it more than this.
When bathing your ferret it is suggested to use a soap free shampoo to reduce irritation of their skin. I personally use Aristopet Ferret Shampoo as it is a Mild Non-Irritating Tearless Shampoo and I also recommend Dermacare Natural Shampoo as it is for animals with normal and sensitive skin. Both of these shampoos can be purchased at Pet Barn or Pet Stock (as long as they have it in stock, of course), alternatively most Veterinary Clinics will have Dermacare products in stock.
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