Anyone with a pet knows how horrible it feels when your pet gets sick. Vomiting or throwing up is a sickness that is pretty common for pets.
It is especially true for cats. But it is not common for ferrets. So when you have a ferret, vomiting can be really worrying.
So, you may be wondering why is my ferret throwing up?
For ferrets, like most animals, throwing up is the process of forced expulsion of stomach content via mouth. Vomiting can be caused by irritation in the intestinal tract. Negative reactions to drugs, motion sickness, or neurological causes can make your ferret vomit as well.
Not sure what the specific cause is? Or are you now wondering what you have to do for your ferret? We can help you in both cases, just follow us to the in-depth article.
Symptoms of Vomiting
All animals show some symptoms before vomiting. Ferrets are no exception. Your ferret might become suddenly lethargic or lose its appetite. Some symptoms will be visible. Some of the key symptoms you should look out for are:
- Loss of appetite
- Drooling
- Diarrhea
- Mucus or fresh blood in stool
- Black tarry or dark brown feces
- Lethargy
- Straining to defecate
- Pawing at the mouth.
Diagnosing your ferret’s problems is no easy feat. Pets are unable to directly express their problems. So understanding their issues is difficult and best left to veterinarians. Consult one as soon as possible when you see the symptoms.
But your work does not end there. You will have to offer your utmost cooperation to the veterinarian. Your help will be necessary to pinpoint the problem with your ferret.
What Causes Ferrets to Throw Up?
We already touched on this a little earlier. While motion sickness might cause vomiting, there are some other common causes as well. Some of the causes are:
Eating foreign bodies
A foreign body might get stuck in your ferret’s digestive system. If your ferret is dry heaving, this might be why.
Toxins
Chocolates, resins, and grapes are toxic for ferrets. Chemical substances are also obviously toxic.
Dietary change & Parasites
Dietary changes and parasites can have adverse effects on your ferret’s body.
Cancer of the liver or intestinal tract
Cancer that takes place in the liver or intestinal tract is commonly known as Neoplasia. It is very dangerous for your ferret.
Reaction to vaccine
Adverse reaction to vaccines might be why your ferret is throwing up blood.
Medical Tests that Might Be Required
Based on the answers you provide, the vet will suggest some tests. The tests will help understand the issue with your pet. Your vet will recommend tests from the following list:
CBC (Complete blood cell count ) Test:
The CBC test will help measure the red blood cell count of your ferret.
Stool testing:
If your ferret is suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, then this test might be used.
Biochemistry Profile:
Biochemistry profile is another blood test. This test is for measuring the number of electrolytes and gastrointestinal enzymes your ferret is producing.
This test is also useful for understanding the overall conditions of your ferret’s organs and health.
X Rays:
X-rays of the abdominal area and chest might be done to look for anomalies.
Endoscopy:
Endoscopy is a complicated test. A fiber-optic camera is placed on the tip of the esophagus. The camera provides recording of the insides of the ferret.
Treatment
Once your ferret has been properly diagnosed, your veterinarian will start the treatment. The treatment might require you to play a part as well.
Change of Diet
A change of the ferret’s diet may be needed. If something specific is needed for your ferret, you might have to force-feed it.
Medication
Similarly, you will surely have to administer some antibiotics or antiparasitic medication. Be sure to follow the schedule as per in the prescription.
Medications (not necessarily antibiotics) may be provided to protect the intestinal tract. Medications might even be used to change the motility of the intestinal tract.
Here we recommend some antibiotic medications for your pet ferret:
But on the other hand, if the matter is serious, your ferret might be hospitalized. In that case there is nothing much you can do directly.
Your ferret might be admitted to a hospital for injectable medications and intravenous fluids. This is considered when your ferret is critically ill or dehydrated. If your ferret has consumed a foreign body, it might need to be operated on. More on this later on.
Treating Toys or Foreign Bodies in Ferret
Sometimes medications might not provide the solution. Ferrets have a tendency of chewing. They will chew on any kind of rubber, such as pacifiers or any other small object. Swallowing these objects can be life-threatening for your ferret.
Rubbery objects can completely obstruct the digestive system of your ferret. In a situation like this, your ferret will become very sick very quickly.
The foreign body will make the ferret vomit. But the vomiting will not be frequent. But your ferret will not eat or drink water. This will cause it to become weak and dehydrated. Their poor condition will be visible. They will appear very ill and might have eyes half-closed.
As we already said, this is a life-threatening situation and should be treated with gravity. Take your ferret to a veterinarian immediately. Your ferret will be needed to be hospitalized and operated on.
The foreign body will be removed from the intestine through surgery. The surgery process is completely safe so don’t worry. Most ferrets recover perfectly from the surgery.
That is all!
FAQs
Is It Normal For a Ferret to Throw Up?
Vomiting is not as common for ferrets as it is for other pets like cats and dogs. There will be specific reasons behind the vomiting of your ferret. As throwing up is not very common for ferrets, the situation should be treated seriously. Consult a vet for treatment and keep an eye out for symptoms.
Is Vomiting Life-Threatening for My Ferret?
Throwing up is not common for ferrets but it is not life-threatening either in most cases. But if the vomiting is due to your ferret swallowing something like rubber, it may be deadly. Or your ferret might consume toxins. In such cases, take your ferret to a vet immediately.
Do I Need A Vet To Treat My Vomiting Ferret?
Yes, a vet must be consulted. It is not normal for ferrets to throw up. So if your ferret throws up there might be something wrong. Without medical experience, you will not be able to treat your ferret. But be sure to keep an eye on your ferret’s recent behavior to help out the vet.
Conclusion
Your pet becoming sick can be really tough. If your lovely ferret is vomiting, stop wondering why my ferret is throwing up and get help ASAP.
Vomiting ferrets must be treated properly by veterinarians to resolve the issue quickly. It is generally nothing serious but it is best to be treated as soon as possible.
Hope your ferret gets well soon!
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