Welcome to our series on Common Ferret Illnesses, and specifically our deep-dive into ferrets suffering from Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis. 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.

What is Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis?

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (what a mouthful!) is caused by your ferret’s cells releasing something called a histamine to attack what they perceive is a foreign body. Think of it like this: It’s the same way your skin might swell if you get stung by a bee. It’s like an allergic reaction. This illness is most commonly found in the intestinal tract -however, it can also affect the liver, abdominal lymph nodes, pancreas, and skin.

Note: More and more veterinarians believe this illness is caused by an allergy to your ferret’s food. We recommend using a more nutritionally accurate food like Wysong FDR

Symptoms:

• Weight loss
• Severe diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Swollen ears (severe cases)
• Skin sores (severe cases)
• Painful belly (severe cases)

Most at Risk:

Ferrets of all ages can suffer from this illness.

How Do You Treat Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis?

The best way to treat this illness is to recognize it early and take your ferret to the vet. After they provide medical care, some vets recommend you switch to a ‘hypoallergenic diet’ without common allergens (chicken, egg, wheat, grains).