Many diseases may not show symptoms until they have progressed. Routine testing is often the only way that you can identify these problems. Dental cleanings should also be considered. Like dogs and cats, ferrets can get periodontal disease. This affects their whole health, not just their teeth. Damage to the gums can give bacteria direct access to the bloodstream, which can harm organs. Many ferrets may develop more infections later in their life, so it is vital to get periodontal disease under control before something else starts attacking their immune system.
Related Read: Do Ferrets Smell? Many people know that their ferret needs high-quality food and proper vet care.
Ferrets are curious and intelligent creatures. They benefit greatly from a range of mental stimulation starting at a young age. Be sure to provide your ferret with plenty of different toys and interact with them daily.
These pets need just as much attention as a cat or a dog. Many ferrets will also benefit from having other ferrets around, so many people will adopt them in pairs.
However, this can vary from family to family. Ferrets are relatively hardy creatures. However, improper breeding has lowered the lifespan of the average ferret considerably. As ferrets gained popularity in the s, many domestic breeders popped up. Some of them bred ferrets to improve the species, while others bred them primarily for profit. In some cases, aesthetic traits were encouraged over those that were healthy. Nowadays, many ferrets can die quite quickly.
Most of the time, these ferrets are from pet stores, as their suppliers focus on making money. Some ferret breeders are a bit like puppy mills, producing as many ferrets as possible, as cheaply as possible. If you want a ferret that will live a long time, we recommend adopting from a high-quality breeder. Breeders who only sell directly are usually more concerned about where their ferrets end up, which should tell you something about how much they care about their pets.
Ferrets can be a bit more expensive from these breeders, but you often get more bang for your buck. Usually, these ferrets are better socialized and have received more vet care.
Some breeders even use genetic testing to help breed out certain genetic conditions that ferrets are prone to. A post shared by K Yamaguchi kyoy Ferrets usually live closer to 5 or 7 years, but some record breakers can live as long as 10 years.
Ferrets are susceptible to three fatal diseases: canine distemper, rabies and the Aleutian disease virus. And yes, ferrets should be vaccinated yearly with a special vaccine created specially for ferrets. The Aleutian disease virus is the ferret version of a cold -- and he can actually get it from you.
Preventing or treating such health issues ensures that your furry friend will be around for longer. Ferrets also suffer from problems of the adrenal glands and pancreas -- both of which can affect life expectancy if not addressed properly. According to Cullen's Archangel Rescue, unspayed females suffer from high estrogen levels, which in turn causes serious anemia -- so serious, in fact, that the ferret will eventually die.
To keep your girl around for as long as possible, make sure you spay her. Boys don't have this problem, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't neuter him, too. Tammy Dray has been writing since She specializes in health, wellness and travel topics and has credits in various publications including Woman's Day, Marie Claire, Adirondack Life and Self. Published: February 23, By Michael Arbeiter Just about any animal lover can tell you the average lifespan of your typical dog or cat, but the question gets a little murkier when it comes to ferrets.
How Long Do Ferrets Live? Keeping Your Ferret Healthy No matter where your ferret comes from, there are many things an owner can do to ensure that his or her pet will stay as healthy and happy as possible, including feeding your ferret quality, ferret-formulated food that is high in protein and keeping up with annual veterinary visits, vaccinations and diagnostic testing blood and urine tests, x-rays, etc.
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