press Enter to searchShowing all results:No products found.
*This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you click on links at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our mission!
Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from common dental disease. In this article, you will learn what causes it, 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 improve.
What is Dental Disease in Ferrets?
Ferrets can suffer from issues with both the tooth and gums. Periodontal disease or gum disease is incredibly common in older ferrets, and is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gum and bone support. Plaque, which is located on a ferret’s tooth, is also extremely common.
Why is this? According to ferret expert Bob Church, “eating kibble wears flats spots on the tooth, which increases the risk of platform fractures (slab factures)… which increases risk for gingivitis and periodontal disease.”
According to Ferrets for Dummies, the main cause of dental disease is the lack of natural diet. Kibble does not contain hair, bones, organs, and other textures and minerals that properly remove plaque and tartar from a ferret’s teeth.
If you feed kibble, we forgive you! We personally feed kibble at this time too. In the future we plan to switch to raw but completely understand that it can feel overwhelming. If you must feed kibble, we recommend Wysong DS 90.
Symptoms:
Bad breath
Inflamed gums
Drooling
Loose teeth
Mouth sores
Difficultly eating
Tartar and plaque
Note: Mouth sores can also be a symptom of renal disease.
Most at Risk:
Because plaque buildup is accumulative, older ferrets are usually the most prone to dental disease. Any kibble-fed ferrets are susceptible to developing dental problems. Ferrets with lymphoma may be more prone to periodontal disease as well.
How Do You Treat Ferret Dental Disease?
The easiest way to reduce and improve your ferret’s dental problems is by switching from kibble to a raw prey diet. If you are unable to do this, you should at least make a point to brush your ferret’s teeth daily. We do not recommend trying to use professional dental cleaning tools yourself, as you may damage your ferret’s enamel.
We recommend avoiding ferret treats high in sugar (like Ferretvite) as this will accelerate plaque build-up.
One reply to “Does Your Ferret Have Dental Disease?”
C
Cathy Johnson-Delaney, DVM
Hi – I just gave a 4+ hour webinar on ferret dental/oral diseases as part of the Dental and Orofacial Surgery in Exotic Companion Mammals. I am wondering who you have as a ferret veterinarian to review your health and medical information. I would suggest Ferret Medicine & Surgery textbook (CRC Press) to have as a resource . If you have future ferret health information, I would be happy to review it/edit it prior to publishing. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis isn’t very common. GI lymphoma is. Please contact me.
Does Your Ferret Have Dental Disease?
Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from common dental disease. In this article, you will learn what causes it, 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 improve.
What is Dental Disease in Ferrets?
Ferrets can suffer from issues with both the tooth and gums. Periodontal disease or gum disease is incredibly common in older ferrets, and is characterized by chronic inflammation of the gum and bone support. Plaque, which is located on a ferret’s tooth, is also extremely common.
Why is this? According to ferret expert Bob Church, “eating kibble wears flats spots on the tooth, which increases the risk of platform fractures (slab factures)… which increases risk for gingivitis and periodontal disease.”
According to Ferrets for Dummies, the main cause of dental disease is the lack of natural diet. Kibble does not contain hair, bones, organs, and other textures and minerals that properly remove plaque and tartar from a ferret’s teeth.
If you feed kibble, we forgive you! We personally feed kibble at this time too. In the future we plan to switch to raw but completely understand that it can feel overwhelming. If you must feed kibble, we recommend Wysong DS 90.
Symptoms:
Note: Mouth sores can also be a symptom of renal disease.
Most at Risk:
Because plaque buildup is accumulative, older ferrets are usually the most prone to dental disease. Any kibble-fed ferrets are susceptible to developing dental problems. Ferrets with lymphoma may be more prone to periodontal disease as well.
How Do You Treat Ferret Dental Disease?
The easiest way to reduce and improve your ferret’s dental problems is by switching from kibble to a raw prey diet. If you are unable to do this, you should at least make a point to brush your ferret’s teeth daily. We do not recommend trying to use professional dental cleaning tools yourself, as you may damage your ferret’s enamel.
We recommend avoiding ferret treats high in sugar (like Ferretvite) as this will accelerate plaque build-up.
One reply to “Does Your Ferret Have Dental Disease?”
Cathy Johnson-Delaney, DVM
Hi – I just gave a 4+ hour webinar on ferret dental/oral diseases as part of the Dental and Orofacial Surgery in Exotic Companion Mammals. I am wondering who you have as a ferret veterinarian to review your health and medical information. I would suggest Ferret Medicine & Surgery textbook (CRC Press) to have as a resource . If you have future ferret health information, I would be happy to review it/edit it prior to publishing. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis isn’t very common. GI lymphoma is. Please contact me.
Related Posts
How to Ferret Proof Your Bedroom
In this article you will learn where and how to ferret proof your bedroom. Want to learn about …
All About Intestinal Blockages
Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from intestinal blockages. …
What is Ferret Proofing?
Did you just get a ferret? It’s time to start ferret proofing your home! You would not believe …
Helicobacter Infection in Ferrets: Symptoms
This is a detailed account of our own experience with Helicobacter Mustelae with our own ferrets along with pictures and advice on how to treat it.