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Dehydration in Ferrets
Ferrets don't have sweat glands and can get dehydrated very quickly in hot weather. Always make sure you have enough fresh water available at all times and if your ferret is in an outdoor cage, fill up a 2L soft drink bottle with water, freeze it, then put it in the cage, wrapped in a towel, so that your ferret can lie against it and cool off.
Some symptoms of dehydration are:
Dry, sticky gums
Dry, sticky saliva
Not much piddle output
Squinting, dry eyes
Diarrhea
Illnesses can also cause dehydration and one of the “tests” you can do to see if your ferret is dehydrated is to pinch the skin on its neck. If it remains up, like a tent, instead of returning to normal, your ferret is dehydrated and needs attention urgently.
You can read more on Dehydration in ferrets on these sites ...
Ferret Emergencies by Susan Brown, DVM (General article, not specifically about dehydration)
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.
Dry, sticky gums 
