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Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from Helicobacter Mustelae. 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 recover.
We at The Modern Ferret are all too familiar with Helicobacter Mustelae. Moose, our oldest ferret, suffered from a severe flair last year, which caused severe ulcers.
This article provides an overview of the illness. However, it you would like an extremely in depth guide of our personal journey with Helicobacter Mustelae (timeline, medication schedules, photos) please read this article.
What is Helicobacter Mustelae?
H. mustelae is a bacterium present in the stomach of most ferrets in the United States. If your ferret has it, he or she most likely got it from their mother as a kit. If this bacterium gets out of control, it can cause inflammation of the intestinal lining, which will cause your ferret’s intestines to stop producing enough mucous. When your ferret doesn’t product enough mucous, stomach acid will burn your ferret’s stomach and cause ulcers.
Symptoms:
Vomitting
Excessive salivation
Diarrhea
Lack of appetite
Blood in poop (black or red)
Overly sleepy
Teeth grinding (sign of pain)
Painful belly
Weight loss
Most at Risk:
H. mustelae primarly affects ferrets over the age of 4, especially ferrets under stress or suffering from other illnesses. Our own ferret, Moose, contracted Helicobacter Mustelae because his immune system was compromised from undiagnosed insulinoma.
How Do You Treat Helicobacter Mustelae?
If your ferret shows some of the symptoms listed above, take them to the vet immediately. If you wait, they will only get worse (we know from personal experience). Your vet will most likely prescribe antibiotics and medication to ease stomach discomfort. As with most illnesses, you have to make sure your ferret stays well fed and hydrated. This could be the difference between life and death.
Click here to learn the exact medication and steps we took to treat Moose’s Helicobacter Mustelae.
Click here to see the first aid kit we recommend for all ferret owners.
We asked over 400 ferret owners around the world help us brainstorm the best ferret name ideas. If you are looking to find the perfect name for your ferret, look no further than the list below! Are you new to ferrets? Check out our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Ferrets where we teach you everything you ever …
Because Insulinoma is one of the most common illnesses our ferrets suffer from, it’s important we all stay informed on the proper treatment and medication, like Prednisolone for ferrets. Book mark this page for future reference. When Moose started the medication 1 month ago to treat his Insulinoma, I didn’t understand what the medication did, …
With PICTURES and VIDEO. Want to detect one of the most common causes of death in ferrets before it’s too late? You can test ferret blood glucose at home! Insulinoma is caused by small tumors on your ferret’s pancreas that disrupt your ferret’s insulin production, leading to dangerously low blood sugar, hypoglycemia, seizures and even …
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Helicobacter Mustelae: Ferret Illnesses
Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from Helicobacter Mustelae. 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 recover.
We at The Modern Ferret are all too familiar with Helicobacter Mustelae. Moose, our oldest ferret, suffered from a severe flair last year, which caused severe ulcers.
This article provides an overview of the illness. However, it you would like an extremely in depth guide of our personal journey with Helicobacter Mustelae (timeline, medication schedules, photos) please read this article.
What is Helicobacter Mustelae?
H. mustelae is a bacterium present in the stomach of most ferrets in the United States. If your ferret has it, he or she most likely got it from their mother as a kit. If this bacterium gets out of control, it can cause inflammation of the intestinal lining, which will cause your ferret’s intestines to stop producing enough mucous. When your ferret doesn’t product enough mucous, stomach acid will burn your ferret’s stomach and cause ulcers.
Symptoms:
Most at Risk:
H. mustelae primarly affects ferrets over the age of 4, especially ferrets under stress or suffering from other illnesses. Our own ferret, Moose, contracted Helicobacter Mustelae because his immune system was compromised from undiagnosed insulinoma.
How Do You Treat Helicobacter Mustelae?
If your ferret shows some of the symptoms listed above, take them to the vet immediately. If you wait, they will only get worse (we know from personal experience). Your vet will most likely prescribe antibiotics and medication to ease stomach discomfort. As with most illnesses, you have to make sure your ferret stays well fed and hydrated. This could be the difference between life and death.
Click here to learn the exact medication and steps we took to treat Moose’s Helicobacter Mustelae.
Click here to see the first aid kit we recommend for all ferret owners.
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Because Insulinoma is one of the most common illnesses our ferrets suffer from, it’s important we all stay informed on the proper treatment and medication, like Prednisolone for ferrets. Book mark this page for future reference. When Moose started the medication 1 month ago to treat his Insulinoma, I didn’t understand what the medication did, …
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