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Ferret News 65: Ferret Intestinal Blockage - Ferret Food
June 3, 2004

by Mary R. Shefferman and Eric Shefferman
along with Gabrielle (the lone ferret)

contact: marymodernferret.com

Hello Ferret Friends!

  We hope you had a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend! We saw some family and ate a lot of hotdogs and hamburgers.

  This week we're going to talk about a very common problem in ferrets -- intestinal blockage. What you read here can save your ferret's life!

  On a related topic, we talk about ferret foods that aren't all they're cracked up to be.

  Also, look in this issue for a coupon code good for $3.00 off at FerretDesigns.com. Remember that buying stuff at FerretDesigns.com helps to support this newsletter and keep it free.

-- Mary

In this newsletter:

• Ferret Intestinal Blockage

• $3 Off Coupon at FerretDesigns! (Hurry! Expires June 8!)

• Did You Know That ... (Not All Ferret Foods Are Created Equal)

Ferret Intestinal Blockage

By Mary R. Shefferman

  It often seems that ferrets spend as much -- or more -- energy trying to get into trouble as we spend trying to prevent them from getting into trouble. One of the ways ferrets get into trouble is eating things they shouldn't.

  One of the most common causes of illness and death in ferrets is intestinal blockage or partial intestinal blockage. The ferret's intestines have about the same diameter as that of the barrel of a ballpoint pen. In addition to having narrow intestines, ferrets love to chew on spongy, rubbery things. In other words, it's not only easy for something to get stuck in a ferret's intestines, it seems that ferrets go out of their way to swallow things that are likely to get stuck in their narrow intestines.

Preventing Intestinal Blockage

  Fastidious ferretproofing helps reduce the chances of your ferret getting an intestinal blockage. Make sure that your ferret does not have access to items like ear plugs, soft latex toys or gloves, sponges, rubber bands, shoe insoles, balloons, rubber balls or other everyday items made of soft, rubbery or spongy material. These are the types of things that veterinarians routinely remove from ferrets' intestines. Some ferrets chew on fabric, ribbon, shoe laces, string, paper, plastic bags or other items. To ferretproof effectively, you have to spend a good amount of time observing what your particular ferret gets into. (Read more about ferretproofing in FerretNews #33, #34, #36, and #56.)

  Even the most careful ferretproofing can't guarantee that your ferret will not get an intestinal blockage. Ferrets are always getting into something. Even if your ferret never chews on "bad" things, if he is showing signs of an intestinal blockage or partial blockage, err on the side of caution and get him to a vet. Years ago, our ferret Ralph showed signs of a blockage. We knew he never chewed on anything, but we couldn't argue with the signs. Our vet did emergency surgery and discovered a tumor blocking Ralph's intestines.

  Swallowed fur can cause a partial or complete intestinal blockage. To prevent hairballs, give your ferret hairball remedy regularly -- especially when any of your ferrets is shedding. (Read more about preventing hairballs in FerretNews #55 and in the article archive.)

  Inappropriate foods are also a cause of intestinal blockage. Ferrets should never eat nuts or hard fruits or vegetables. Their intestines do not have the ability to break down these food materials. (Read more about appropriate treats for ferrets in FerretNews #39.)

Signs and Symptoms of Intestinal Blockage

  A ferret who has an intestinal blockage or partial intestinal blockage will show some or all of these signs:

• vomiting, sometimes projectile vomiting

• poor appetite or no appetite (even refusing treats and not drinking water)

• no stool, skinny (narrow) stool or loose stool (diarrhea)

• straining to defecate

• dehydration (from not drinking)

• hypoglycemia (low blood sugar from not eating)

• lethargy

• signs of abdominal pain (pawing at mouth, grinding teeth)

  Two other red flags for a possible intestinal blockage are:

• a partially chewed item in your home

• bits of a foreign object in your ferret's stool

For example, if you find a partially chewed rubber band, you will want to look around for the missing piece -- that includes looking in your ferret's stool. If you see that your ferret has some odd material in his stool, you should try to find what he has chewed on to determine if he has passed all that he swallowed.

  Intestinal blockage in a ferret is an emergency situation. Ferrets cannot survive long without eating or drinking. Also, the longer the blockage is in place, the greater the chance that the foreign object can damage the intestines. Any ferret who can't keep down food or shows signs of not eating or eating less than normal should be seen by a vet as soon as possible.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Intestinal Blockage

  Ferrets with suspected intestinal blockage (or partial blockage) must see your vet. But as first aid, you can give your ferret a one-inch ribbon of hairball remedy (laxative).

  In some cases, large doses of hairball remedy can help the ferret pass the foreign object. If the ferret passes the object, he will still need treatment for dehydration (e.g., subcutaneous or intravenous fluids) and potential infection (e.g., antibiotics). Even if the foreign object passes through the ferret, it may have caused some damage in the intestines, so a veterinary visit is always in order.

  Your vet will examine the ferret, palpate his abdomen, and may recommend an x-ray or a barium x-ray. If there are signs of blockage on the x-ray or if your vet can feel an object or mass in your ferret's intestines, he will need to do surgery to remove the foreign object.

  Surgery is always a risk. But a ferret with an intestinal blockage has no other chance for survival. This is why it is important to bring your ferret to the vet as soon as you notice the symptoms of intestinal blockage. The longer the ferret goes without food or water, the more risky surgery becomes.

  Sometimes an intestinal blockage will not show up on x-ray and the vet cannot feel it. Foam and partial blockages are especially tricky to detect. Thus, in some cases, your vet may recommend exploratory surgery even though he cannot see or feel anything blocking the intestines. In these cases, the tell-tale symptoms are enough to warrant surgery. In our Ralph's case, our vet could not see or feel anything in his intestines -- even with a barium x-ray -- but because Ralph was projectile vomiting, it was obvious that he had some sort of intestinal blockage.

****

  Keeping your home safe for your ferret is the first line of defense against intestinal blockage. However, there is really no such thing as ferretproof. You have to be constantly vigilant to make sure your home stays ferret-safe. Giving your ferret hairball remedy whenever he or his playmates are shedding can reduce the risk of intestinal blockage by a hairball. If your ferret shows signs of intestinal blockage, taking quick action can make all the difference.

Additional Reading:

Modern Ferret Magazine #20 (ferretproofing)
Modern Ferret Magazine #10 (hairballs)
Modern Ferret Magazine #29 (intestinal obstruction)

(You can purchase a full set of Modern Ferret Magazine back issues at the Ferret Trading Post. Purchases at the Ferret Trading Post help keep this newsletter free.)

Keep Ferret Hairball Remedy (Laxative) On-Hand
Order Your Ferret Hairball Remedy Online

Marshall Ferret Lax Remedy for Ferrets 4 oz Marshall Ferret Lax is specially formulated to treat and prevent the formation of hairballs in the intestines and stomach of ferrets. A specialized lubricant works safely and quickly to help remove hair and other unintentionally ingested items that may not pass through a ferret’s system. Ferret Lax is all natural, with a great taste ferrets love! 4 oz.

$3 Off Coupon at FerretDesigns.com Expired

  From now until June 8, 2004, you can get $3.00 off orders over $25.00 by using the coupon code: DADSDAY.

  Get a father's day gift ... or something for yourself! Maybe a "I Stand For Freedom" T-Shirt to wear on the 4th of July? Or a ferrety BBQ Apron?

Did You Know That ...

  Not all ferret foods are good for ferrets. Although there are now several good brands of ferret food available, some can actually be dangerous to your ferret.

  Ferret foods or treats that have chunks of dried fruit or vegetables can actually cause an intestinal blockage. Ferrets are carnivores, so they don't need fruits and vegetables. Although your ferret might like a small piece of melon or a half of a raisin as a treat, these are never appropriate in your ferret's main diet. "Hard" vegetables, such as carrots, are simply never appropriate for a ferret.

  You may be tempted to get your ferret a food that seems like a treat, but don't. Keep the treats to a minimum ... and out of your ferret's main diet.