Gastric Ulcers in Ferrets

I was quite amazed to think that ferrets could get ulcers, as they seem like such carefree little creatures but yes, they can.

The causes could be anything from stress to bacterial infection (helicobacter mustelae).

If left untreated, the ulcer can cause peritonitis which, in turn, causes death.

Some of the signs to watch out for are:

Lethargy

No interest in food

Vomiting

Grinding of teeth

Thick, black, tarry poop

Loss of weight

Appearing rigid when you pick it up

The treatment for gastric ulcers takes quite a while to complete and you’ll have to feed your ferret a bland, highly digestible diet for about a month, or longer if necessary, until it’s back to normal.

Helicobacter mustelae by Bruce Williams, DVM

Ferret Gastric Ulcer / Helicobacter FAQ by Ferret FAQ

Ferrets - Gastric Ulcers (Arizona Exotic Animal Hospital)

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