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Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from intestinal blockages. In this article, you will learn what causes them, the most common symptoms, and which ferrets are most at risk. We will also provide an overview on what steps you will want to take to help your ferret recover.
What is an Intestinal Blockage?
Intestinal blockages are caused when a ferret ingests (eats) something that their body is incapable of digesting, so it gets stuck in their body. They can’t poop it out and they can’t throw it up. It’s just stuck. This is the leading cause of death in ferrets under 2 years old, according to Ferrets for Dummies. However, in our experience ferrets of all ages are equally interested in ingesting things they shouldn’t eat!
Our theory: Perhaps intestinal blockages are more common with younger ferrets because a new owner may have not removed all the dangerous objects and properly ferret proofed their home? Just a thought…
Symptoms of Intestinal Blockages:
Constipation (trouble pooping)
Smaller poop than normal
Bloated belly
Painful belly
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Vomiting
Pawing at mouth
Dehydration
Teeth grinding (sign of pain)
Face rubbing
Lethargy (overly sleepy)
Coma
Seizure
Most at Risk:
Ferrets with new ferret owners as parents, and ferrets in new environments that haven’t been fully ferret proofed, are most likely to get ingest something that causes an intestinal blockage. Younger ferrets (under the age of two) are statistically more likely to suffer from intestinal blockages as well.
How Do You Treat Ferrets with an Intestinal Blockage?
Moose ate window seal foam and developed an intestinal blockage
If you suspect your ferret ate something they shouldn’t, monitor your ferret closely for changes in behavior. Make sure to place your ferret in a place that they cannot ingest more of the offending item. You must do your best to locate the item they ingested. Check under your bed and raid their hidey hole. If they ate it once, they will eat it again.
Next, if your ferret is acting especially sleepy and you do not see them poop, take them to the vet immediately. Intestinal blockages are extremely time sensitive. Your vet may have to perform surgery to remove the blockage. As with most illnesses, keep your ferret hydrated and fed.
Our ferret, Moose, ingested a blueberry-sized piece of window foam and he almost passed away from it. The first night it happened, we cleaned our room from head to toe (or so we thought). It turns out we forgot to look under our dresser where there was a huge roll of foam with a bunch of bite marks in it. The second night, Moose ingested a bigger piece and he quickly became very lethargic. Moose vomited all night long and became limp and unresponsive. We had to rush him to the emergency vet the following morning. When he passed the piece of foam in his poop 24 hours later, we could not understand how he survived at all. It would be the equivalent of us swallowing a softball and trying to pass it in the toilet. Ouch!!!
I’m a first time Pet Owner of a beautiful Albino Sprite Ferret, named: Rhaenys, whom I fell in love with at first sight, and love spending every moment with her, when not at work… She is mostly Free Roamed in my Big Sleep Room Zone, accept when I go for my 8 Hr. Shift work, and Sleep Time… My room is fully Ferret Proofed… Everything that is not safe for her has been removed completely from her reach… However I do have a Question regarding Regarding the Symptoms of Ferret Intestinal Blockages What is Face Rubbing? Never seen or heard of it before….
In this article you will learn where and how to ferret proof your house. Want to learn about the most likely causes of danger to your ferret? Check out What is Ferret Proofing? If you’d like to learn how to ferret proof a different section of your home, click one of the links below: Kitchen Bathroom …
In this article you will learn where and how to ferret proof your bathroom. Want to learn about the most likely causes of danger to your ferret? Check out What is Ferret Proofing? If you’d like to learn how to ferret proof a different section of your home, click one of the links below: Kitchen Bathroom …
Help ferret owners understand the unique relationship between ferrets and coronavirus (specifically COVID-19). Disclaimer: While we are confident in the information provided in this article, we will make sure to update this page regularly if any new information pertaining to ferrets and coronavirus develops. After all, we are not scientific experts. We are passionate ferret …
Welcome to the Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Ferrets! This is Chapter 2: What Do Ferrets Eat? If you already have a solid understanding of what ferrets eat, and why, you can skip to Chapter 3 (though we’d still recommend skimming this page for a quick zoology lesson). For everyone else, this chapter will help you learn exactly why ferrets …
All About Intestinal Blockages
Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from intestinal blockages. In this article, you will learn what causes them, the most common symptoms, and which ferrets are most at risk. We will also provide an overview on what steps you will want to take to help your ferret recover.
What is an Intestinal Blockage?
Intestinal blockages are caused when a ferret ingests (eats) something that their body is incapable of digesting, so it gets stuck in their body. They can’t poop it out and they can’t throw it up. It’s just stuck. This is the leading cause of death in ferrets under 2 years old, according to Ferrets for Dummies. However, in our experience ferrets of all ages are equally interested in ingesting things they shouldn’t eat!
Our theory: Perhaps intestinal blockages are more common with younger ferrets because a new owner may have not removed all the dangerous objects and properly ferret proofed their home? Just a thought…
Symptoms of Intestinal Blockages:
Most at Risk:
Ferrets with new ferret owners as parents, and ferrets in new environments that haven’t been fully ferret proofed, are most likely to get ingest something that causes an intestinal blockage. Younger ferrets (under the age of two) are statistically more likely to suffer from intestinal blockages as well.
How Do You Treat Ferrets with an Intestinal Blockage?
If you suspect your ferret ate something they shouldn’t, monitor your ferret closely for changes in behavior. Make sure to place your ferret in a place that they cannot ingest more of the offending item. You must do your best to locate the item they ingested. Check under your bed and raid their hidey hole. If they ate it once, they will eat it again.
Next, if your ferret is acting especially sleepy and you do not see them poop, take them to the vet immediately. Intestinal blockages are extremely time sensitive. Your vet may have to perform surgery to remove the blockage. As with most illnesses, keep your ferret hydrated and fed.
Our ferret, Moose, ingested a blueberry-sized piece of window foam and he almost passed away from it. The first night it happened, we cleaned our room from head to toe (or so we thought). It turns out we forgot to look under our dresser where there was a huge roll of foam with a bunch of bite marks in it. The second night, Moose ingested a bigger piece and he quickly became very lethargic. Moose vomited all night long and became limp and unresponsive. We had to rush him to the emergency vet the following morning. When he passed the piece of foam in his poop 24 hours later, we could not understand how he survived at all. It would be the equivalent of us swallowing a softball and trying to pass it in the toilet. Ouch!!!
One reply to “All About Intestinal Blockages”
LunaruZ
I’m a first time Pet Owner of a beautiful Albino Sprite Ferret, named: Rhaenys, whom I fell in love with at first sight, and love spending every moment with her, when not at work… She is mostly Free Roamed in my Big Sleep Room Zone, accept when I go for my 8 Hr. Shift work, and Sleep Time… My room is fully Ferret Proofed… Everything that is not safe for her has been removed completely from her reach… However I do have a Question regarding Regarding the Symptoms of Ferret Intestinal Blockages What is Face Rubbing? Never seen or heard of it before….
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