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Ferrets: dermatoses
British Small Animal Veterinary Association , 269 (2009); https://doi.org/10.22233/9781905319565.24
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Abstract

Ferret skin is thick, especially around the head and neck, and has a deep subcutis. This can make venipuncture and subcutaneous injection problematical. The skin contains numerous sebaceous glands, causing the hair coat to feel normally slightly greasy and have a characteristic musky odour. In albino animals, sebaceous secretions may cause yellowing of the hair coat with age, especially in intact males. Ferrets also have two prominent perianal scent glands, the contents of which are expelled when the animal is excited or agitated, or in oestrus. Normal ferrets may also have comedones present on the skin of the tail. Ferrets do not have well developed sweat glands and this, combined with the thick coat, makes them susceptible to heat stress and heat stroke. This chapter considers Approach to the skin case; Parasitic skin disease; Bacterial disease; Fungal disease; Viral disease; Endocrine disease; Neoplasia; and Miscellaneous conditions.

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Figures

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24.2
Ear mites () viewed at 100X magnification. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.) © 2009 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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24.2 Ear mites () viewed at 100X magnification. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.)
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24.3
Fungal pododermatitis in a ferret with lymphosarcoma. (Courtesy of C Orcutt.) © 2009 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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24.3 Fungal pododermatitis in a ferret with lymphosarcoma. (Courtesy of C Orcutt.)
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24.4
Typical skin lesions in a ferret with distemper virus. A chin rash is a typical early presentation. Swelling and crusting of the foot pads. (Courtesy of O Contreras and B Portillo Lopez.) © 2009 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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24.4 Typical skin lesions in a ferret with distemper virus. A chin rash is a typical early presentation. Swelling and crusting of the foot pads. (Courtesy of O Contreras and B Portillo Lopez.)
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24.5
Alopecia in a ferret with hyperadrenocorticism. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.) © 2009 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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24.5 Alopecia in a ferret with hyperadrenocorticism. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.)
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24.6
This ferret had alopecia due to adrenal gland disease and several mast cell tumours on the abdomen. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.) © 2009 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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24.6 This ferret had alopecia due to adrenal gland disease and several mast cell tumours on the abdomen. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.)
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24.7
Use of cryosurgery (cryopen) for removal of small skin tumours. The ferret was given butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg as a sedative, and the lesion was blocked locally with 0.1 ml 2% lidocaine. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.) © 2009 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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24.7 Use of cryosurgery (cryopen) for removal of small skin tumours. The ferret was given butorphanol 0.2 mg/kg as a sedative, and the lesion was blocked locally with 0.1 ml 2% lidocaine. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.)
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24.8
Skin tumours. Fibrosarcoma adjacent to the ear of a ferret. Squamous cell carcinoma on the face of a ferret. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.) Sebaceous gland adenoma on the tail. (Courtesy of C Orcutt.) © 2009 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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24.8 Skin tumours. Fibrosarcoma adjacent to the ear of a ferret. Squamous cell carcinoma on the face of a ferret. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.) Sebaceous gland adenoma on the tail. (Courtesy of C Orcutt.)
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24.9
Injection site fibrosarcoma following vaccination for distemper. In this ferret there was one major fibrosarcoma at the injection site which was removed surgically and over the course of the next 1.5 years seven more tumours were removed. One tumour eventually penetrated the thoracic wall and spread into the chest. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.) © 2009 British Small Animal Veterinary Association
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24.9 Injection site fibrosarcoma following vaccination for distemper. In this ferret there was one major fibrosarcoma at the injection site which was removed surgically and over the course of the next 1.5 years seven more tumours were removed. One tumour eventually penetrated the thoracic wall and spread into the chest. (Courtesy of C Johnson-Delaney.)

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