Abscesses in Ferrets

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Abscesses in ferrets are an accumulation of pus in a wound, and is usually caused by bacteria.

Wounds can be caused by a bite or puncture or from eating sharp bones. Dental abscesses can also occur in the ferret.Some symptoms to look out for:

Swelling

Discharge

Redness

Pain

Fever

Persistent bad breath

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Depression

Loss of appetite

Weight loss

The vet will probably put your ferret on a course of antibiotics after lancing and cleaning out the abscess.

Abscessed anal glands

Some of the symptoms include:

“Dirty bottom” – bottom smudged with poop, pus and blood

Swollen, puffy anus

Big white headed “pimples” on either side of the anus

Sometimes male ferrets can have problems with undescended testicles which, in turn, can cause abscesses in the anal glands.

One ferret owner who had this problem advised me that her ferret didn’t show any other symptoms other than the “dirty” bottom, which she had put down to her ferret’s lack of personal grooming. He was eating and playing normally and it was only when she was playing with him and rubbing his stomach, she noticed there was pus coming out of a sore beside his anus.

The problem was fixed after the abscess was flushed and cleaned out and the ferret put on a course of antibiotics.

So please be aware of what a healthy bottom should look like and if you notice any change, check it immediately and take your ferret to the vet, if necessary.

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More information about Abscesses can be found on the following sites …

Abscesses in Ferrets (PetPlace.com)

Lumps and Bumps on Ferret Skin by Susan Brown, DVM

Ferret Skin Tumors, Cysts, Lumps And Abscesses by Ron Hines DVM PhD

Abscesses in Ferrets by John R Dinsdale, BVMS MRCVS (NFWS)

Skin abscess by Cathy Johnson-Delaney, David Perpinan (VetStream)

(Last updated November 2019)

DISCLAIMER: The information contained on this page is not meant to replace seeing a veterinarian if you think your ferret is ill. It’s only meant to supply general information on a particular illness which was obtained either from personal experience with my sick ferrets, or from books and/or the Internet.